Another train accident in West Bengal, 50 injured

Malda: 50 people were injured when 11 bogies of Guwahati-Bengaluru Express and a passenger train derailed after a collision this evening at Jamirghata in West Bengal's Malda district.

A body of an elderly woman was also found near the derailed engine of the Guwahati-Bengaluru Express, however, Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi has said "the dead body is not related to the incident in anyway."

The accident occurred between Gour Malda and Jamirghata stations in Malda division of Eastern Railway at 7:05 pm.

Two bogies and the engine of the Guwahati-Bengaluru Express, which was on its way to the southern city, derailed first and were hit by the Azimganj-Malda Town Passenger leading to further derailment of bogies of both the trains, Railway sources said.

While six coaches - three sleeper class, two parcel and one luggage - and the engine of Guwahati-Bengaluru Express derailed, three general bogies and the engine of the passenger train also derailed, they said.

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The passenger train was coming from the opposite direction on the second line when the driver applied emergency brakes after seeing the derailed coaches but could not stop it from brushing the coaches.

The accident has affected train services on Malda route with seven trains cancelled.

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Helplines have been set up at Howrah (033-26411416), Malda (03512-283444) and Rampurhat (03461-255131) rail stations for the public.

Senior Eastern Railways officials are supervising rescue operation at the scene.