8 Dead, Several Injured as Kanchanjunga Express Derails After Collision in West Bengal
Desk Report, June 17, 2024: A devastating train accident has claimed the lives of eight individuals and left several others injured as the Kanchanjunga Express derailed following a collision with a goods train on Monday. The incident occurred during the train’s journey from Agartala, Tripura, to Kolkata’s Sealdah station. The collision was so severe that it caused at least two compartments of the Kanchanjunga Express to derail, with one coach left suspended in the air. The tragic event unfolded in the Rangapani region, approximately 7 KM away from New Jalpaiguri station.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the incident, describing it as “saddening.” In a tweet, he extended his condolences to the families of the victims and conveyed his hopes for the swift recovery of those injured. He assured that rescue operations were already underway and that he had personally spoken with officials to assess the situation. The Railways Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, was also enroute to the site to oversee rescue efforts.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also reacted swiftly to the tragedy, expressing her shock and concern. She tweeted about the incident in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district, where the Kanchenjunga Express was reportedly struck by a goods train. Immediate measures, including the dispatch of district magistrate, police, medical personnel, and disaster response teams, were initiated to aid in rescue and medical assistance.
President Droupadi Murmu, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha joined in expressing their condolences and support. President Murmu tweeted her deep distress over the loss of lives and offered prayers for the injured and the success of ongoing relief and rescue operations.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the urgency of the rescue efforts, describing them as being conducted on a “war footing.” He highlighted the coordinated efforts involving Railways, NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) to swiftly shift the injured to hospitals and provide necessary aid. Senior officials were deployed to the site to oversee operations.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha also shared his sentiments on X, detailing the efforts underway following the collision involving the Agartala-Sealdah bound Kanchenjunga Express near New Jalpaiguri. He mentioned the damage to three coaches and assured that the state government was collaborating closely with railway authorities to ensure the safety and recovery of passengers affected by the accident.
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