Team News Riveting
New Jalpaiguri, June 17
At least 15 people died and around 60 others were injured after a goods train collided with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express near Rangapani station in West Bengal on Monday morning.
Three rear compartments of the express train derailed following the impact of the collision from behind by the locomotive of the goods train. “At least 15 people have died in the accident till now and 60 suffered injuries,” according to police officials.
Local media pictures and video footage from the scene showed one train coach on its side, parts of it crushed into a mass of twisted metal. Another coach can be seen rising into the air at a steep angle above an engine carriage.
Rescue operations are underway at the spot, about 30 km from North Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri station, and the injured persons were being shifted to nearby hospitals.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a post 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 site.”
The divisional railway manager (DRM) of North Frontier Railway’s Katihar division said the 13174 Kanchanjunga Express was bound for Sealdah from Agartala and the accident occurred around 9 am.
One of the compartments of the express train got detached following the collision and settled above the locomotive of the goods train, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the train accident near New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal.
In a post on X, the prime minister said 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,” he added.
