Kanchanjungha Express accident HIGHLIGHTS: Death count rises to 9

Union Minister and West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar visited the Kanchenjunga Express train accident site in Darjeeling district.

Alleging that the railways have become "totally parentless", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that it was only keen on increasing fares and not improving passenger amenities. Banerjee was speaking to the press at the Kolkata airport on the way to Siliguri to take stock of the situation following the train accident near Rangapani in which several people were killed.

Up line (Trains going towards New Jalpaiguri) restored at 17.40hrs. Down line will also be restored shortly.

(With inputs from Gonika)

Ashwini Vaishnaw visited North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri and met the injured.

He said, "Right now our focus is on restoration. This is the main line. The rescue operation has been completed. This is not the time for politics. I will also meet the injured..."

He will meet the injured of the Kanchenjunga Express train accident in Darjeeling district.

Ashwini Vaishnaw reached the accident site to take stock of the situation.

The death count in the train accident rose to 9.

"Several parts of this rail department are being sold to several private sectors. On the contrary, when Mamata Banerjee used to be the railway minister, perhaps she was the best railway minister in this century. Without increasing the rail fare by a single penny, she brought so many projects," TMC MP Santanu Sen said.

19 trains were cancelled after the Kanchenjunga Express train met with an accident in the Phansidewa area of the Darjeeling district, West Bengal

"I had a word with Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw...This is a very unfortunate incident," Tripura CM Manik Saha said.

According to preliminary information received from rail officials, the passenger train was stationary on the tracks when the goods train rammed into it from behind.

At least 8 passengers died and 60 others were injured, after three rear coaches of the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express derailed on Monday morning as a goods train collided with it in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, officials said. The toll could rise, as multiple agencies of the state and Centre were simultaneously working on war footing along with locals to rescue passengers who could still be trapped inside, they said.

Ashwini Vaishnaw enhanced an ex-gratia compensation. Vaishnaw, in an X Post, said "Enhanced ex-gratia compensation will be provided to the victims; ₹10 Lakh in case of death, ₹2.5 Lakh towards grievous and ₹50,000 for minor injuries."

Ministry of Railway said a team has been constituted that will report the investigation into the accident.

Jaya Varma Sinha Chairman and CEO Railway Board, said that the rescue operation was completed in the Kanchenjunga Express, goods train accident. 

"Rescue operation completed. The driver (Loco pilot) who disregarded the signal has died & also the guard of Kanchenjunga Express has lost his life. Help desks established at all railway stations along Agartala- Sealdah route," said Jaya Varma Sinha Chairman & CEO Railway Board.

Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman & CEO Railway Board, "Driver and assistant driver of the goods train and guard of Kanchenjunga Express train have died in the incident."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund). 

"PM @narendramodi has announced that an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the railway mishap in West Bengal. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000," the PMO posted on X.

PM Modi reacted to Kanchanjungha Express accident, saying he spoke to officials and took stock of the situation. ADVERTISEMENT "The railway accident in West Bengal is saddening. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to officials and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to assist the affected. The Railways Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw Ji is on the way to the site of the mishap as well," the PM posted on X.

Railways issued helpline numbers for the families of the passengers who were travelling on Kanchanjungha Express which met an accident on Monday.

According to the Railways authorities, the death count rose to eight in the Kanchanjungha Express accident.

A high-level meeting may be held soon on rail safety and accidents, said the sources, adding a committee to investigate the accident will be announced soon.

President Droupadi Murmu, in an X post, said, "The news of the loss of lives due to a train accident in Darjeeling, West Bengal is deeply distressing. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and the success of relief and rescue operations."

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is leaving for Darjeeling to visit Kanchenjunga Express train accident site.

Indian Railways officials in Delhi are monitoring the situation at the accident site in West Bengal Five passengers have died and many were injured after a goods train rammed into Kanchenjunga Express train in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal.

MoS Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu said, "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." 

At least five people, including a loco pilot died in the fatal rail accident after the Sealdah-bound 13174 Kanchanjungha Express was hit by a goods train from behind.

The DRM Seldah Division said, "For any enquiry in connection with the collision of Train No.13174 - Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express, Helpline Numbers at Sealdah is: BSNL No. 033-2350 8794,  Railway Auto Phone No. 033-238333826."

Further, the helpline numbers has also been issued by Guwahati Railway Station (03612731621, 03612731622, 03612731623), Kir Station Help Desk (6287801805), Emergency New Jalpaiguri (+916287801758) and Help line Number at Katihar (09002041952, 9771441956).

The fatal accident happened when Kanchenjunga Express train was rammed by a goods train at Ruidhasa in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. A police team was present at the spot and a rescue work is underway.

Abhishek Roy, Additional SP of Darjeeling Police, said, "Five passengers have died, 20-25 injured in the accident. The situation is serious. The incident occurred when a goods train rammed into Kanchenjunga Express." 

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reacted to the train collision involving a goods train and the Kanchanjungha Express near New Jalpaiguri on Monday. Vaishnaw termed the incident "unfortunate" and noted that senior officials were promptly dispatched to the site.  

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her shock over the tragic accident in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. She stated that the Kanchanjungha Express had been hit by a freight train and detailed teams, including the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, doctors, ambulances, and disaster response teams, have been dispatched for rescue and medical assistance. Efforts are underway on a war footing to address the situation.