A tragic train accident occurred in West Bengal, involving the Sealdah-Kanchanjunga Express and a goods train in Darjeeling. The incident led to serious casualties and injuries, prompting immediate response efforts from authorities and emergency services.
The Kanchanjungha Express which is a passenger train collided with a goods train, causing derailments and significant damage. The incident, which occurred at Jalpaiguri district is currently under investigation.
Reports indicate that at least eight people died and more than 20 others were injured. Rescue operations were quickly launched by local authorities, including police, fire brigade, and medical teams, to free trapped passengers and provide urgent medical care.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences and tweeted “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 Railway Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw Ji is on the way to the site of the mishap as well.”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep concern and visited the accident site to supervise the rescue efforts. She assured the affected families of government support and stressed the importance of a thorough investigation into possible causes like signal failure or human error. Railway authorities and safety officials are investigating to prevent future accidents.
The collision disrupted train services in the area which resulted in delays and cancellations. Efforts were made to restore normal operations while ensuring the accident site was safe and safety checks on railway infrastructure were conducted.
Local communities rallied to support rescue teams and affected passengers, offering essentials like food, water, and shelter. The incident prompted discussions on improving railway safety measures and infrastructure maintenance to enhance overall rail safety.