At least 15 passengers lost their lives, and 60 others sustained injuries when three rear coaches of the stationary Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express derailed on Monday morning after a goods train collided with it from behind in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district. The tragic incident occurred at approximately 8:30 am, about 11 km away from New Jalpaiguri station, a major hub in the Northeast Frontier Railway zone serving eastern and northeastern India.

Authorities are concerned that the death toll could potentially increase as rescue operations continue. Multiple state and central agencies are working tirelessly to extricate any passengers who may still be trapped inside the wreckage. Visuals from the accident site depicted one of the train carriages hanging precariously in mid-air, illustrating the severity of the collision.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has responded swiftly to the disaster, announcing compensation measures. He pledged ₹10 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased victim. Additionally, ₹2.5 lakh will be provided to those who sustained grievous injuries, and ₹50,000 for those with minor injuries, in an effort to support the affected families during this tragic time.

Railway officials have indicated in a preliminary probe that the mishap involving the derailment of three coaches of the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express was caused by the goods train's loco pilot disregarding a signal. This lapse in signal adherence has been identified as a critical factor leading to the collision.

Tragically, among those who lost their lives in the accident were the loco pilot of the goods train and the guard of the passenger train. Their deaths underscore the severity of the incident and the immediate impact on railway personnel.

In response to the accident, a total of 19 train services have been cancelled thus far on routes including New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri Junction, Bagdogra, and Aluabari Road. This precautionary measure aims to manage the aftermath of the major train derailment and ensure passenger safety.

The collision has resulted in the blockage of both Up and Down lines, severely disrupting train operations in the area. This disruption has affected long-distance train services originating from north Bengal and northeastern regions of the country, exacerbating travel challenges for commuters.

Rescue teams are manually repositioning affected compartments to locate more trapped passengers amidst concerns over the safety of using gas cutters, which could potentially endanger those still inside, according to an official from the state Disaster Management Department present at the scene. The slow progress of rescue efforts is further compounded by rainfall, adding to the operational challenges.

In response to the situation, Partha Pratim Roy, chairman of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC), announced that ten buses of North Bengal Rashtriya Paribahan Nigam have been dispatched to aid stranded passengers of the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express. Additionally, extra bus services from Siliguri to Kolkata will commence from Siliguri Tenzing Norgay bus terminus starting this afternoon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the lives lost in the train accident near New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. In a social media post, he described the incident as saddening and extended sympathies to the families of the victims. Modi assured that he had spoken to officials to assess the situation and confirmed that rescue operations were actively underway. He also noted that Railway Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw Ji was en route to the accident site to oversee response efforts.

Rescue operations have been initiated by authorities following the train accident near New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. Disaster response teams, including the NDRF and a divisional team equipped with 15 ambulances, are actively providing medical assistance and support to the affected passengers. To coordinate emergency responses on a war footing basis, helpline numbers and desks have been setup.

Image source: Indian Express