Kanchanjunga Express Accident: Toll Rises To 8; Vaishnaw Announces Rs 10 Lakh Ex-Gratia For Kin Of Deceased

At least eight people died and 60 were injured as a goods train collided with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express near Rangapani station in West Bengal on Monday, police said. Three rear compartments of the express train derailed under the impact of the collision from behind by the locomotive of the goods train, railway officials said.

Rescue operations are underway at the spot, about 30 km from North Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri station, and the injured persons were being shifted to nearby hospitals. “At least 15 people have died in the accident till now and 60 suffered injuries,” a senior police officer told PTI.

While earlier PM Narendra Modi had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has now announced an enhanced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh in case of death, Rs 2.5 Lakh towards grievous and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries.

SILIGURI TRAIN ACCIDENT: WHAT HAPPENED?

The 13174 Kanchanjunga Express was bound for Sealdah from Agartala when a goods train hit it from behind in Siliguri’s Rangapani region around 9 am, a railway official said. The accident happened seven km from North Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri station, soon after the express train left the New Jalpaiguri Station.

The driver and assistant driver of the goods train and guard of the Kanchenjunga Express train have died in the incident said Varma Sinha, Chairman and CEO, Railway Board.

Prime facie, it seems the container train overshot the signal and collided with the rear portion of the stationary Kanchanjunga train. “Human error seems to be the cause. The first indications suggest that this is a case of signal disregard. Kavach needs to be proliferated and planned for West Bengal,” said Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman and CEO Railway Board.

RESCUE OPERATIONS, HELPLINE NUMBERS

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a post on X, said: “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.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Railways has issued two helpline numbers– 03323508794, 03323833326 — to provide speedy assistance to kins of passengers travelling in Kanchanjunga Express.

The Sealdah Eastern Railway has also set up a control desk at Rangapani station after the Kanchenjunga Express train rammed by a goods train at Ruidhasa in Darjeeling district.

THE LIST OF EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBERS

• KIR Emergency Help desk No- 6287801805
• Commercial Control- 9002041952, 9771441956
• NJP Station Emergency No- 6287801758
• (Accident Relief Train) ART / New Jalpaiguri (NJP)- 9434085300/ 9434085301/ 6287801742
• ARME/NJP- 6287801756/9934807885/9608815719
• Aluabari Road Junction (AUB) Emergency No- 8170034235
• Kishanganj (KNE) Emergency No- 7542028020 & 06456-226795
• Dalkhola (DLK) Emergency No- 8170034228
• Barsoi (BOE) Emergency No- 7541806358
• SAMSI Emergency No- 03513-265690/ 03513- 265692
• (Accident Relief Train)ART/KIR No- 9473198029/9473198026
• Rangiya Division Help desk No.- Rangiya Junction station: 9101095573, New Bongaigaon station: 9435021417/9287998179 and Barpeta Road station: 9287998173
• Guwahati Help desk No.-Guwahtai station: 03612731621/03612731622/03612731623
• ARME/KIR: 9473198307, 9473198308, 9473198309, 9473198310, 6287801752, 6287801753, 6287801754, 6287801755

Vaishnaw said on X, “Unfortunate accident in NFR zone. Rescue operations going on at war footing. Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination. Injured are being shifted to the hospital. Senior officials have reached site.”

‘SADDENING’: PM MODI, PREZ MURMU GIVE CONDOLENCE ON X

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X, “The railway accident in West Bengal is saddening. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to officials and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to assist the affected. The Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is on the way to the site of the mishap as well.”

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday condoled the loss of lives. “The news of the loss of lives due to a train accident in Darjeeling, West Bengal is deeply distressing. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and success of relief and rescue operations,” Murmu said in a post on X.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah wished speedy recovery to those injured.”The train accident that happened in New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal is very sad. I express my condolences to those who lost their family members in this unfortunate accident and wish for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said on X in Hindi and Bangla.

SURVIVORS NARRATE ORDEAL

A passenger from Agartala, who was in coach number S6 of the Kanchanjunga Express, said he felt a sudden jerk and the compartment screeched to a halt. He also claimed that the relief and rescue operations were delayed. “My wife, child and I somehow managed to come out of the mangled coach. We are currently stranded… The rescue operations also started quite late,” the passenger told a television channel.

Another passenger, who was travelling in the B1 coach, said, “I have been rescued, I have suffered an injury on my head.”

Meanwhile, the unaffected portion of Kanchanjunga Express has left the site towards Malda Town. The passengers have been provided with food and water and restoration work of the site is in progress. Several trains on the route have been diverted.