New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, June 17, 2024 – A tragic train accident occurred this morning when a goods train rammed into the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express from behind near New Jalpaiguri station. The collision, which took place around 8:30 a.m. in the Rangapani area of the Katihar Railway Division, led to the derailment of at least two bogies of the Kanchanjunga Express.
Casualties and Injuries
At least five passengers have been confirmed dead, and over 30 passengers have sustained injuries in the mishap. “Five passengers have died, 30 injured in the accident. The situation is serious. The incident occurred when a goods train rammed into Kanchanjunga Express,” said Abhishek Roy, Additional SP of Darjeeling Police, to ANI.
Rescue Operations
Rescue operations are in full swing with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Divisional team, and 15 ambulances on-site. Injured passengers are being shifted to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. “The rescue operation is in full swing,” said an official from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). Ten buses from North Bengal Rashtriya Paribahan Nigam have also been dispatched to the accident site to rescue stranded passengers. Additional bus services from Siliguri to Kolkata are being arranged to accommodate the affected passengers.
Location and Initial Investigations
The accident took place approximately 11 km from New Jalpaiguri station, one of the largest and busiest stations in the Northeast Frontier Railway zone. Preliminary investigations suggest that the goods train overshot the signal and collided with the rear portion of the Kanchanjunga Express, which included two parcel vans and a guard coach.
Government and Railway Responses
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her shock and sorrow over the incident in a post on social media platform X. She wrote, “Shocked to learn, just now, about a tragic train accident, in Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. While details are awaited, Kanchenjunga Express has reportedly been hit by a goods train. DM, SP, doctors, ambulances and disaster teams have been rushed to the site for rescue, recovery, medical assistance. Action on war-footing initiated.”
Timeline of Events
- 8:30 a.m. – Collision occurs between goods train and Kanchanjunga Express near New Jalpaiguri station.
- 9:00 a.m. – Initial reports of the derailment surface.
- 9:15 a.m. – Local authorities and railway officials begin coordinating rescue operations.
- 9:30 a.m. – NDRF personnel and Divisional Railway officials arrive at the site. Emergency response teams, including 15 ambulances, are dispatched.
- 10:30 a.m. – Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is briefed and posts her response on X.
- 11:00 a.m. – Rescue operations intensify with more personnel and equipment arriving.
- 11:26 a.m. – North Bengal Rashtriya Paribahan Nigam dispatches 10 buses to the accident site for rescue operations.
A tragic accident has occurred in the NFR zone. Swift rescue operations are underway with coordinated efforts from Railways, NDRF, and SDRF. The injured are being quickly moved to hospitals. Senior officials are on-site to supervise. #NFRAccident #RescueOperations
— Ravneet Singh Bittu (@RavneetBittu) June 17, 2024
Helpline Numbers
For assistance and information regarding the accident, the following helpline numbers are available:
- Guwahati Railway Station:
- 0361-2731621
- 0361-2731622
- 0361-2731623
- Sealdah Railway Station:
- 033-23508794
- 033-23833326
Awaiting Further Details
As rescue operations continue, further details about the cause of the collision and the extent of the damage are awaited. Authorities are focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of the passengers and will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
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