Four people were killed and about 50 were injured when 12 coaches of Bikaner-Guwahati Express derailed near Domohani in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district on Thursday. The Bikaner-Guwahati Express (15633) derailed around 5 pm in an area under Alipurduar division of Northeast Frontier Railway. There were about 1,053 passengers onboard the train at the time of the derailment at the location. The location is about 42 kilometers from New Jalpaiguri station and about 100 km from New Alipurduar station. As per initial information, about 12 coaches got derailed of which two capsized. The injured have been taken to Jalpaiguri District Hospital and New Mainaguri District Hospital. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will visit the accident site on Friday morning to take stock of the incident. The Prime Minister spoke to the Railway Minister to take stock of the situation.
The train originated from Bikaner in Rajasthan and was heading to Guwahati in Assam via Patna, when the accident took place near Domohani.
More than 200 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have been deployed for the rescue operation at the site of the train accident, apart from two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The President and Prime Minister have expressed grief and
A senior BSF officer said that the force were the first responders after they were alerted by Railways about the incident. On getting information about the train accident near Mainaguri, troops of 169 BN from BSF Guwahati Frontier responded quickly and joined rescue operation with Prahris and medical team. “BSF headquarters in Guwahati immediately alerted the BSF camps nearby to the incident site. Immediately around 200 personnel from the nearest camp were deployed. The team rushed to the location and shifted injured passengers to the nearest hospital,” he said. He added that BSF personnel provided first aid to many injured passengers and shifted them to safe locations.
“We are coordinating with district administration and arranging food and shelter for passengers. Rescue operations are still on,” he said. The NDRF too has been conducting search and rescue operations at the site. “A total of 12 coaches were derailed, 4 casualties reported and over 50 injured who have been hospitalized. Two NDRF teams at the spot for rescue and relief,” Atul Karwal, NDRF Director-General of said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. “Spoke to Railways Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw and took stock of the situation in the wake of the train accident in West Bengal. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly,” PM Modi tweeted. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “I am reaching the site tomorrow morning. Medical teams, senior officers at the spot. PM Modi also took stock of the situation and rescue operation.” He also announced an enhanced amount of ex-gratia compensation to the victims of the accident. “Enhanced amount of ex-gratia compensation to the victims of this unfortunate accident: Rs 5 Lakh in case of death, Rs 1 Lakh towards grievous and Rs 25,000 for minor injuries,” he said in a tweet.
President Ramnath Kovid was among several to express their anguish.