New Delhi [India], Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday left for Darjeeling in West Bengal to visit the accident site in which at least five people were killed after the Kanchenjunga Express passenger train was hit from behind And more than 20 were injured. Goods train.
Vaishnav is expected to reach Bagdogra airport, 40 km away from the site of the collision, which led to the derailment of two coaches, this morning.
The accident took place at Ruidhasa near Rangpani station of Katihar Railway Division ahead of New Jalpaiguri Junction at around 8:45 am today. This area falls in Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district.According to Sabyasachi Dey, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), the Kanchenjunga Express, running between Silchar in Assam and Sealdah in Kolkata, was going from Agartala in Tripura to Sealdah when the goods train hit it from behind.
Visuals from the site showed a bogie hanging in the air.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways officials in Delhi are monitoring the situation at the accident site.
Darjeeling Police's Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Roy said, "Five passengers died and 20-25 were injured in the accident. The situation is critical.The incident occurred when a goods train collided with the Kanchenjunga Express."
North Bengal National Transport Corporation Chairman Partha Pratim Roy said that 10 buses of North Bengal National Transport Corporation have left for the accident site to rescue the passengers trapped in the Kanchenjunga Express.
"10 buses of North Bengal National Transport Corporation have left for the accident site to rescue the stranded passengers of Sealdah bound Kanchenjunga Express. Apart from this, additional bus services from Siliguri Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminal for Siliguri-Kolkata will start from today afternoon. Will be done." Partha Pratim Roy said.National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police and army teams are present at the accident site.
Speaking to ANI, a passenger of the Kanchenjunga Express train said, "I was traveling in B1 coach when it was hit by the train. I have been rescued, I sustained head injuries."
Vaishnav had said earlier today that the rescue operation is being carried out on a war footing.
Vaishnav posted on Instagram, “Unfortunate accident in NFR area.Rescue operations are going on war footing. Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination. The injured are being taken to the hospital. Senior officials have reached the spot."
Sealdah Eastern Railway has set up a control desk at Rangpani station.Railway sources said that the goods container train went beyond the signal and collided with the rear parcel coach of Kanchenjunga Express.
The train has two parcels and one coach for the guards.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and Divisional Railway officials have reached the accident site. A total of 15 ambulances and medical equipment have also reached the accident site.
Railway officials said that officials are reviewing the situation.Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the accident occurred in Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district.
"Just shocked to learn about a tragic train accident in Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. Though details are awaited, Kanchenjunga Express has reportedly collided with a goods train," Mamata Banerjee said in a post on
West Bengal Chief Minister said, "DM, SP, doctors, ambulance and disaster teams have been sent to the spot for rescue, recovery, medical assistance. Action has been initiated on war footing."
Vaishnav is expected to reach Bagdogra airport, 40 km away from the site of the collision, which led to the derailment of two coaches, this morning.
The accident took place at Ruidhasa near Rangpani station of Katihar Railway Division ahead of New Jalpaiguri Junction at around 8:45 am today. This area falls in Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district.According to Sabyasachi Dey, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), the Kanchenjunga Express, running between Silchar in Assam and Sealdah in Kolkata, was going from Agartala in Tripura to Sealdah when the goods train hit it from behind.
Visuals from the site showed a bogie hanging in the air.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways officials in Delhi are monitoring the situation at the accident site.
Darjeeling Police's Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Roy said, "Five passengers died and 20-25 were injured in the accident. The situation is critical.The incident occurred when a goods train collided with the Kanchenjunga Express."
North Bengal National Transport Corporation Chairman Partha Pratim Roy said that 10 buses of North Bengal National Transport Corporation have left for the accident site to rescue the passengers trapped in the Kanchenjunga Express.
"10 buses of North Bengal National Transport Corporation have left for the accident site to rescue the stranded passengers of Sealdah bound Kanchenjunga Express. Apart from this, additional bus services from Siliguri Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminal for Siliguri-Kolkata will start from today afternoon. Will be done." Partha Pratim Roy said.National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police and army teams are present at the accident site.
Speaking to ANI, a passenger of the Kanchenjunga Express train said, "I was traveling in B1 coach when it was hit by the train. I have been rescued, I sustained head injuries."
Vaishnav had said earlier today that the rescue operation is being carried out on a war footing.
Vaishnav posted on Instagram, “Unfortunate accident in NFR area.Rescue operations are going on war footing. Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination. The injured are being taken to the hospital. Senior officials have reached the spot."
Sealdah Eastern Railway has set up a control desk at Rangpani station.Railway sources said that the goods container train went beyond the signal and collided with the rear parcel coach of Kanchenjunga Express.
The train has two parcels and one coach for the guards.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and Divisional Railway officials have reached the accident site. A total of 15 ambulances and medical equipment have also reached the accident site.
Railway officials said that officials are reviewing the situation.Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the accident occurred in Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district.
"Just shocked to learn about a tragic train accident in Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. Though details are awaited, Kanchenjunga Express has reportedly collided with a goods train," Mamata Banerjee said in a post on
West Bengal Chief Minister said, "DM, SP, doctors, ambulance and disaster teams have been sent to the spot for rescue, recovery, medical assistance. Action has been initiated on war footing."
