Darjeeling (West Bengal) [India], June 17 (ANI): At least five passengers were killed and over 20 people sustained injuries after a goods train rammed into Kanchenjunga Express train in West Bengal‘s Darjeeling district on Monday, police said.
“Five passengers have died and 20-25 injured in the accident. The situation is serious. The incident occurred when a goods train rammed into Kanchenjunga Express,” said Abhishek Roy, Additional Superintendant of Police (SP) Darjeeling Police.
Kanchanjungha Express which runs between Silchar in Assam to Sealdah in Kolkata was Sealdah bound when a goods train hit it from behind near Rangapani station, located close to New Jalpaiguri in North Bengal, according to Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer – Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing.
“Unfortunate accident in NFR zone. Rescue operations going on at war footing. Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination. The injured are being shifted to the hospital. Senior officials have reached the site,” Vaishnaw posted on X.
Sealdah Eastern Railway has set up a control desk at Rangapani station.
Visuals from the site showed a wagon of Kanchenjunga Express train suspended in the air.
Sources in the Railways said that the goods container train overshot the signal and hit the rear parcel coach of the Kanchanjunga Express.
The train has two parcels and one coach for the guard.
Personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Divisional Railway officials have reached the accident site. A total of 15 ambulances and medical equipment have also reached the site of the mishap.
Officials are reviewing the situation, the Railway officials said.
The accident took place at Rangapani area in the Katihar Railway Division ahead of New Jalpaiguri Junction at around 8:45 am today.
Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the accident took place in Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district.
“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,” Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X.
“The DM, SP, doctors, ambulances and disaster teams have been rushed to the site for rescue, recovery, medical assistance. Action on war-footing initiated,” the West Bengal chief minister said. (ANI)

President Murmu, PM Modi condole loss of lives in West Bengal train accident

New Delhi [India], June 17 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top leaders on Monday expressed their condolences over the accident in Darjeeling involving the Kanchenjunga Express train and a goods train in which at least eight passengers were killed and over 20 people sustained injuries.
“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 success of relief and rescue operations,” Murmu posted on X.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed their grief over the incident.
“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 @AshwiniVaishnawJi is on the way to the site of the mishap as well,” Prime Minister Modi posted on X.
Union Home Minister took to his social media platform X to express his condolences to family members of the deceased.
“The railway accident in New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal is very sad. I express my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this unfortunate accident and wish for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Amit Shah wrote on X.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar also extended condolences to the bereaved families of the accident victims.
“The loss of lives in a train accident in Darjeeling, West Bengal is truly distressing. I extend my sincere condolences to the bereaved families, and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Dhankhar posted on X.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, in a post on X, said, “Very sad news received about the train accident in New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. I pray to God to grant the souls of the departed a place in his feet and provide strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense sorrow. I pray to Baba Kedar for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
“The tragic train collision between the Kanchenjunga Express and a Goods train is extremely unfortunate. My heart goes out to the families of those who have lost their lives and prayers for the swift recovery of the injured,” Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has left for Darjeeling to visit the site of a train accident involving the Kanchenjunga Express train and a goods train that killed at least five passengers and left over 20 people injured. He will reach Bagdogra airport which is 40 kilometres away from the accident site.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways officials in Delhi are monitoring the situation at the accident site.
“Around 25 people have been injured and they have been shifted to the nearby hospital. They are non-fatal injuries. The rescue operation is going on a war footing. We are trying to finish the rescue operation as soon as possible. Senior officials have already reached the site. According to the preliminary information Kanchenjunga was hit from the rear by a goods train…We have information of 8 deaths,” Northeast Frontier Railway Chief Public Relations Official Sabyasachi De told ANI.
Partha Pratim Roy, Chairman, of North Bengal Rashtriya Paribahan Nigam said 10 buses of North Bengal Rashtriya Paribahan Nigam have left for the accident site to rescue stranded passengers of the Sealdah-bound Kanchenjunga Express.
“10 buses of North Bengal Rashtriya Paribahan Nigam have left for the accident site to rescue stranded passengers of the Sealdah-bound Kanchenjunga Express. Also, additional bus services from Siliguri-Kolkata from Siliguri Tenzing Norgay bus terminus will be operational from this afternoon,” said Partha Pratim Roy.
Kanchanjungha Express which runs between Silchar in Assam to Sealdah in Kolkata was Sealdah bound when the goods train hit it from behind near Rangapani station, located close to New Jalpaiguri in North Bengal, according to Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer – Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
Teams of NDRF and Police are present at Kanchenjunga Express train accident site in Ruidhasa.
A passenger of the Kanchenjunga Express train, while speaking to ANI said, ” I was travelling in B1 coach when the train was hit. I have been rescued, I have suffered an injury on my head.” (ANI)

Centre announces Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia for kin of deceased in West Bengal train collision

New Delhi [India], June 17 (ANI): The BJP-led Central government has announced an enhanced ex-gratia compensation for victims in the train mishap in West Bengal’s Darjeeling involving the Kanchenjunga Express passenger train and a goods train in which at least eight people were killed and over 20 people sustained injuries.
Families of the deceased will be provided Rs 10 lakh each while a sum of Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 50,000 will be provided to those who sustained grievous and minor injuries respectively, said Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The Loco pilot of the goods train and the guard of the passenger train were among those who died, a Railway official said.
“Death toll is 8. A special train left from there (accident site to Sealdah) at 1240 hours. Most of the passengers are from Malda and Bolpur. Most of the passengers are safe,” Kaushik Mitra, Chief PRO, Eastern Railway told ANI.
The tragic collision between the Kanchanjunga Express train and the goods train took place because the loco pilot of the goods train “disregarded the signal,” Jaya Varma Sinha, the chairman and CEO of Railway Board, said.
“The accident happened this morning. Kanchenjunga Express was travelling from Agartala to Sealdah. The train was hit in the rear end by a goods train which disregarded the signal,” Jaya Varma Sinha told ANI.
“Rescue operation completed. The driver (Loco pilot) who disregarded the signal has died and also the guard of Kanchenjunga Express has lost his life,” the official said.
Help desks established at all railway stations along the Agartala- Sealdah route, the Railway Board CEO said.
The accident took place at Ruidhasa near Rangapani station in the Katihar Railway Division ahead of New Jalpaiguri Junction at around 8:45 am today. The area falls in the Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district.
Kanchanjungha Express which runs between Silchar in Assam to Sealdah in Kolkata was on its way from Agartala in Tripura to Sealdah when the goods train hit it from behind, according to Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer – Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
Visuals from the site showed one of the bogies suspended in mid-air.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Police and Army were involved in the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that there would be many passengers from Assam on the train and he remained 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 told reporters. (ANI)