Death troll increased, now 8 dead and more than 60 injured when the Kanchanjungha Express collided with a goods train near Jalpaiguri in West Bengal around 9 am on Monday.
Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw increased the compensation to Rs 10 lakh for the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for grievous injuries, and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries.
“The Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express collided with a goods train on June 17 morning near New Jalpaiguri,” stated a senior North Frontier Railway (NFR) official.
“Five passengers have died, and 20-25 are injured in the accident. The situation is serious. The incident occurred when a goods train rammed into the Kanchanjungha Express,” said Abhishek Roy, Additional SP of Darjeeling Police.
#WATCH | "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," says Abhishek Roy, Additional SP of Darjeeling Police. pic.twitter.com/5YQM8LdzLo
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2024
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on X, “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 the site.”
Two coaches of the Kanchanjungha Express derailed in the crash, as reported.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that doctors and disaster response teams have been dispatched to the scene.
The Kanchanjungha Express was traveling from Silchar in Assam to Sealdah in Kolkata when it was hit from behind by a goods train near Rangapani station, close to New Jalpaiguri.
“Shocked to learn, just now, about a tragic train accident, in the 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,” the CM posted on X.
Helpline numbers:
- Kolkata: 033-23508794, 033-23833326
- Guwahati: 0361-2731621, 0361-2731622, 0361-2731623