Kanchenjunga Train Collision Kills 9 And Injures 40 Others

A tragic train collision in Kanchenjunga, West Bengal, has killed nine people and injured 40 others. Two railway employees have also died. The reports say that an express train collided with a goods train in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. The train collision happened on June 17.

Railway board chairperson, Jaya Verma Sinha told reporters that the tragic collision took place around 9 a.m. on June 17. The chairperson said, “The rescue work is complete. The injured have been shifted to the North Bengal Medical College, and they are being provided the best possible treatment.” The rescue team is at the site in Kanchenjunga.

Kanchenjunga Collision: Here’s How It Happened

Kanchenjunga Express was traveling from Agartala in Tripura to Sealdah in Kolkata. While on the tracks, a goods train hit the Express train from behind near Rangapani station. As a result, the collision derailed a total of three coaches on the Express train. The parcel coach at the rear end of the Express was the main factor in the limited casualties. Guardscoach and compartments further suffered less impact.

The National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF), the Indian Army, and other teams are at the site rescuing the people. As per the available information, the goods train overshot the signal and crashed into the Kanchenjunga express train. Jaya Verma Sinha, the Railway Board Chairperson, told the reporters that the unaffected front portion of the Express train will resume its journey forward soon so that the passengers can reach their destinations.

Leaders Rushed To The Site of Collision

The Chief Minister of Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has expressed her shock on X (formerly Twitter) about the train collision. She said doctors and disaster response teams had rushed to the spot at the Kanchenjunga collision.

The Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, was seen on his way to the collision site. A video posted on X by the news agency ANI shows the minister riding a pillion on a motorcycle on his way to the site. He also posted on X about the train collision on the Kanchenjunga Express. The Minister added that the families of victims will get 10 lakh Rupees each, 2.5 lakh for grievous injuries, and 50,000 for minor injuries.

President Deoupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to X to express their condolences.