In a tragic incident, the Kanchanjunga Express, bound for Sealdah, suffered a devastating derailment early Monday morning in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district. The accident occurred when a goods train collided with the stationary passenger train from behind, causing three rear coaches to derail.
The impact resulted in the deaths of at least 9 passengers, with 41 others sustaining injuries. Rescue efforts are underway amid fears that more passengers could be trapped inside the affected coaches. Dramatic visuals from the scene depict one of the coaches suspended in mid-air, highlighting the severity of the collision.
The incident unfolded around 8:30 am, approximately 11 km from New Jalpaiguri station, a key hub in the Northeast Frontier Railway zone. This has disrupted railway services in eastern and northeastern India, affecting both Up and Down lines.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has swiftly announced compensation measures, offering ₹10 lakh to the families of each deceased passenger, ₹2.5 lakh for grievously injured individuals, and ₹50,000 for those with minor injuries. The compensation will be disbursed from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Preliminary investigations suggest that the mishap was caused by the goods train’s loco pilot allegedly disregarding a signal. Tragically, both the loco pilot of the goods train and the guard of the Kanchanjunga Express are among those who lost their lives.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is currently at the North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri, personally overseeing the treatment of injured passengers. Meanwhile, authorities have cancelled 19 trains along various routes including New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri Junction, Bagdogra, and Aluabari Road due to the accident’s impact on rail operations.
As the nation mourns the lives lost and prays for the swift recovery of the injured, the focus remains on restoring normalcy to train services while the Commissioner of Railway Safety initiates a thorough investigation into this tragic incident.
