Kanchanjungha Express train accident: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw responded to the train collision involving a goods train and the Kanchanjungha Express near New Jalpaiguri on Monday. In a social media update, Vaishnaw termed the incident "unfortunate" and noted that senior officials were promptly dispatched to the site. He emphasised that the injured had been transferred to a hospital for treatment. "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," Vaishnaw wrote on X. Although he did not mention any casualties, police confirmed the death of at least seven people.
Kanchanjungha Express train accident
The Railway Minister's reaction came as the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express collided with a goods train on Monday morning near New Jalpaiguri. There are unconfirmed reports of injury to a few persons in the accident that took place around 9 am, the divisional railway manager of NFR’s Katihar Division said. The 13174 Kanchanjunga Express from Agartala collided with the goods train near Rangapani close to New Jalpaiguri station, he said.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee expresses shock over train accident
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock over the train accident and added the district magistrate, doctors, along other top officials were rushed to the incident site. "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, and medical assistance. Action on war footing initiated," Banerjee said in a social media post.
MoS Railway reacts to Kanchanjungha Express train accident
Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu also reacted to the recent train accident. He said that the top rail officials were rushed to the accident site. "A tragic accident has occurred in the NFR zone. Swift rescue operations are underway with coordinated efforts from Railways, NDRF, and SDRF. The injured are being quickly moved to hospitals. Senior officials are on-site to supervise. #NFRAccident #RescueOperations." he posted on the social media platform.
It is worth mentioning that the accident happened more than a year after Coromandel Express collided with a stationary iron ore-laden goods train at Bahanaga Bazar station. During the accident, some of its derailed coaches then crashed into the Yeshwantpur-Howrah Express, resulting in India’s worst railway disaster in three decades. The accident took the lives of 293 passengers and left 1,100 injured.
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