June 17th 2024.
Tragedy struck on Monday morning when a goods train collided with the stationary Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express in West Bengal's Darjeeling district. The impact caused three rear coaches of the passenger train to derail, resulting in the death of 15 passengers and injuries to 60 others. The toll could potentially rise, as rescue operations were being carried out by multiple state and central agencies, with the help of locals, to free any trapped passengers.
The casualties included the pilot and co-pilot of the goods train, as confirmed by a senior railway official. The injured were quickly transported to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital for medical assistance. According to the official, the collision occurred near Rangapani station, about 30 km from New Jalpaiguri station, causing the three rear compartments of the Kanchanjunga Express to derail.
Expressing his condolences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to share his thoughts on the tragic incident. He stated, "The railway accident in West Bengal is saddening. My heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. My prayers are with the injured and their families. I have spoken to officials and have taken stock of the situation. Rescue operations are currently underway and the Railways Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw Ji is en route to the site of the mishap."
In addition to offering his sympathies, the PM also announced that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of each deceased, while the injured would receive Rs 50,000. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also left for West Bengal to personally oversee relief operations following the accident. According to initial reports, the passenger train was stationary when it was hit from behind by the goods train.
The impact was so severe that two rear compartments of the Kanchanjunga Express were thrown off the tracks, while another was left hanging mid-air with the goods train's engine underneath. The rescue operations were further complicated by the inclement weather in the region. This incident also brought back chilling memories of the Coromandel Express disaster in Odisha, which occurred last year and claimed hundreds of lives.
The Kanchanjunga Express, which was travelling from Agartala to Sealdah, was affected by the accident at around 9 am, as per the railway official. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed her shock and concern on social media, stating, "I am deeply saddened to hear about the tragic train accident in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. The Kanchenjunga Express was reportedly hit by a goods train. The district officials, police, doctors, and disaster teams have been rushed to the site to provide immediate help."
The accident also caused disruptions in long-distance train services from north Bengal and the northeastern part of the country. To cater to the affected commuters, the state government announced additional bus services on an emergency basis. While preliminary reports suggested that the goods train's loco pilot may have overshot the signal, there was no confirmation on whether there were any issues with the signaling system or how the two trains could come so close on a single track.
Raju Bista, BJP MP from Darjeeling, was among the leaders who reached the site to supervise the rescue operations. A passenger from Agartala, who was travelling in coach S6 of the Kanchanjunga Express, described the moment of impact as a sudden jerk before the compartment came to a screeching halt. He also claimed that the rescue operations were delayed, and he, along with his wife and child, had to wait for assistance. The severity of the accident and its impact on the affected passengers is truly saddening, and we hope that the injured recover soon.
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