Train Accident in West Bengal Live: 8 people have been killed, 25 others have injured
Nine people were killed and around 50 passengers were injured after a good train collided with the Kanchanjunga Express travelling to Kolkata from Assam's Silchar in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. The goods train rammed the passenger express from behind near Rangapani station, close to New Jalpaiguri. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was seen riding a motorbike to reach the accident site. PM Modi has taken stock of the situation.
The impact of the collision derailed two coaches of the passenger train. The Kanchanjunga Express is a daily train that connects Bengal with the Northeastern cities of Silchar and Agartala. This route is in the Chicken's Neck corridor, which connects the Northeast with the rest of the country.
"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," Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X.
Here are the highlights on the train accident:
Many passengers from Assam on Kanchenjunga Express hit by goods train: Himanta SarmaAfter the Kanchenjunga Express train accident Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the ravaged train had several passengers from his state on board and his government is concerned about them.
"I have spoken to the Railway minister regarding the accident. The train was from Tripura & passes through Assam. There will be many passengers from Assam. We remain concerned about the passengers...Whatever needs to be done will be done...," Sarma said speaking to reporters on Monday.
Earlier in the day, several dignitaries including West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as well as Bharatiya Janata Party West Bengal Chief Sukanta Majumdar visited the North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri to meet the injured.
Bengal Governor meets train accident victims at Siliguri, asks stakeholders to "stand together"West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose met the injured of the Kanchenjunga Express train accident at North Bengal Medical College and said that all stakeholders should stand together in the hour of crisis.
"I saw the patients and discussed with the doctors, the situation is under control. They are being given the best treatment. They are being given the best medical facilities. This is a tragedy in which we will all stand together. All steps will be taken for the rehabilitation of those admitted to the hospital," Bose said speaking to reporters after meeting the injured on Monday.
The Governor asked all stakeholders to stand together in the hour of crisis.
S Jaishankar expresses grief over loss of lives in West Bengal train accidentExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday condoled the loss of lives in the train accident in West Bengal that killed at least eight people and injured over 20 people.
The accident took place on Monday morning near New Jalpaiguri when a goods train collided with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express.
"Saddened by the news of the train accident in West Bengal. Deepest condolences to the bereaved families," Mr Jaishankar wrote on X.
Bengal train accident: Chief Minister announces Rs 2 lakh compensation to family members of victims from TripuraTripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday announced Rs 2 lakh compensation to the family members of any passenger from the state who died in the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express accident in north Bengal.
The Kanchanjungha Express, which left Agartala on Sunday, was hit by a goods train carrying containers between Rangapani and Chatterhat station under the Katihar division of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
Train accident: Tripura sends officials to site to extend assistanceThe Tripura government has sent a two-member team of officials of the state government to extend assistance to the injured.
At least nine people have died and about 50 are injured as a goods train collided with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express on Monday morning near New Jalpaiguri, an official said.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visits train accident site in Bengal's RangapaniRailway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the site of the train collision at Rangapani near New Jalpaiguri station in West Bengal on Monday afternoon and took stock of the situation.
Mr Ashwini rode pillion on a motorbike for some distance to the accident site as the road was narrow for bigger vehicles to move.
What Is Kavach? Safety System Missing On Bengal Route Where Trains CrashedKavach, the made-in-India system to help prevent accidents if two trains are travelling on the same line, was not available on the tracks in Darjeeling where the two trains collided today. At least eight passengers have died and over 50 others were injured after a goods train rammed the Kolkata-bound Kanchanjunga Express from behind.
As an old video of Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw explaining the Kavach system went viral following today's crash, officials said the system is yet to be installed in much of the rail network.
" The Railways plans to deploy the safety system on the Delhi-Guwahati route under its goal to cover over 6,000 km of tracks by next year. Bengal falls within the 3,000 km of tracks set to be protected by Kavach this year. The system will be applied to the Delhi-Howrah route," Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman of Railway Board told NDTV.
Read more. Kanchanjunga Express Accident LIVE: Loco Pilot, Assistant Among 3 Railway Staffers Killed In Bengal CollisionThree railway staff members were among eight people killed when a goods train rear-ended the Silchar-Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express at 8.55 am today, railway officials have said.
The goods train, which reportedly jumped a signal, collided with the passenger train on the same track around 8.55 am. Three coaches of the express train derailed, with one of them climbing onto the locomotive of the goods rake because of the impact of the collision.
At least five passengers and three railway staffers - the locomotive pilot and assistant locomotive pilot of the goods rake and the guard in the express train - were killed and nearly 50 others were injured. Officials said the casualties could have been much higher but for the fact that the last two coaches of the express train were the guard coach and the cargo van.
Read more. Kanchanjunga Express Accident LIVE:
The unaffected portion of Kanchanjunga Express has left the site towards Malda in West Bengal. The passengers have been provided with food and water. Restoration work of the site is under progress.
Kanchanjunga Express Accident LIVE: Rs 10 Lakh Compensation For Train Crash VictimsRailways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced enhanced compensation for the victims of Kanchanjunga Express accident.
Kanchanjunga Express Accident LIVE:
Four coaches of Kanchenjungha Express and five containers and the engine of the goods trains were involved in the collision. Rest of the portion of Kanchenjunga express has been moved away from the accident site.
Kanchanjunga Express Accident LIVE: Several trains have been diverted to alternate parallel route due to the accident, say railway officials. Around 10 trains have been diverted so far, including Rajdhani. The cause of accident still unknown.
Kanchanjunga Express Accident LIVE: Loco pilot, motor man and one other railway staff among eight dead in the accident, says railway.
Kanchanjunga Express Accident LIVE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to leave from Kolkata Airport soon. She is headed to the accident site in Rangapani.
Kanchanjunga Express Accident LIVE:
Railways Minitser Ashwini Vaishnaw to reach the accident site in two hours
West Bengal Train Accident LIVE: PM Modi Takes Stock Of The Situation At Accident Site
West Bengal Train Accident LIVE: How Rescue Operations Are Underway At Accident Site- Gas cutter being used to cut open up the engine of the goods trains
- Another train being organised to take the passengers to Sealdah from NJP
West Bengal Train Accident LIVE:
Union Minister JP Nadda urges BJP workers in Bengal to assist in rescue operation.
West Bengal Train Accident LIVE - "Deeply Distressing": President Droupadi Murmu On Kanchanjungha Express Collision
West Bengal Train Accident LIVE: Naveen Patnaik On Kanchanjungha Express Collision
Kanchanjunga Express Accident LIVE:
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to leave for the accident site.
Kanchanjunga Express Accident LIVE:
Kanchanjungha Express-Goods Train Collide In Darjeeling: What We Know So FarDarjeeling Train Accident Latest Updates
▪️ Goods train collides with Kolkata-bound Kanchanjunga Express.
▪️ The accident took place at the Rangapani station near Jalpaiguri.
▪️ No casualties reported so far.
▪️ Rescue operations underway.
WATCH: "Situation Is Serious": Additional Superintendent Of Police Officer Darjeeling
WATCH: Sealdah Eastern Railway Sets Up Control Desk At Rangapani Station
Helpline Numbers For Sealdah, Guwahati, Katihar And Lumding Railway StationHelpline Number at Sealdah
033-23508794
033-23833326
Helpline Number For Guwahati Station
03612731621
03612731622
03612731623
Helpline Number at Katihar
09002041952
9771441956
Help line Number at Lumding
03674263958
03674263831
03674263120
03674263126
03674263858
BREAKING: 5 Dead, 25 Injured After Kanchanjungha Express-Goods Train Collide
Police have confirmed that five passengers have been killed and over 25 others have been injured in the train accident.
Visuals From The Accident Site Show Mangled Train Coaches
"Unfortunate Accident, Rescue Ops On": Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw