At least 12 coaches of Guwahati-Bikaner Express overturned in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri
At least five people were killed and 45 injured when 12 coaches of Bikaner-Guwahati Express train derailed and overturned near Dohomoni in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district on Thursday, officials said.
Visuals of the incident showed a number of coaches lying sideways down the elevated tracks as rescue workers were seen trying to extricate the passengers.
The accident occurred around 5 p.m. in an area under Alipurduar division of Northeast Frontier Railway, an NFR spokesperson said in Guwahati.
The accident occurred more than 90 km from Alipurduar Junction, he added.
"An accident relief train with a medical team is on way to the spot. We are awaiting further details," the spokesperson said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in the middle of a meeting with chief ministers to review the COVID-19 situation, inquired West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee about the accident. Ms Banerjee, who had spoken to the Jalpaiguri district magistrate, briefed the the prime minister about the relief and rescue operations.
According to railway officials, since the accident occurred on the main line, all train movement towards Guwahati has been halted for the time being.
Here are Highlights on Guwahati-Bikaner Express Derailment:
"Everything Went Blank": Train Accident Survivors Recount Experience"A heavy jerk followed a loud sound, I fell from my berth and everything went blank," said a survivor of the Bikaner-Guwahati Express train, which derailed in West Bengal's New Jalpaiguri district on Thursday, leading to the death of five people and injury of 45 passengers.
Twelve coaches of the train jumped the rails, and some of them overturned near Domohani.
The accident occurred at around 5 pm in an area under the Alipurduar division of Northeast Frontier Railway, an NFR spokesperson said in Guwahati.
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Guwahati-Bikaner Express Derails In West Bengal's Jalpaiguri DistrictDistressing visuals have surfaced of multiple passengers trapped in the debris after a train accident in North Bengal. The Guwahati-Bikaner Express train derailed near the Maynaguri town of Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal today. Casualties are feared, Railway sources told news agency PTI.
Visuals from the accident site show people being rescued from the debris of multiple damaged train coaches lying sideways next to the elevated train tracks. Police can be seen on-site, with locals and other passengers helping in relief and rescue operations.