According to Railway Board chairman and CEO Jaya Varma Sinha, the loco pilot of the goods train, who is one of the dead, “disregarded the signal” in the tragic collision that occurred on Monday in West Bengal between the Kanchanjunga Express and the goods train.
The Unfortunate Kanchanjunga Express Accident
The freight train’s locomotive impacted the Kanchanjunga Express from behind, causing its three rear carriages to derail. Around 9 a.m. today, a goods train headed towards Kolkata collided with the Kanchanjunga Express, which was headed towards Sealdah, close to Jalpaiguri railway station in the Darjeeling district, resulting in up to 15 fatalities.
There are reportedly 60 injured people receiving care at nearby hospitals. Counted among the dead is the passenger train guard.
#WATCH | Kanchenjunga Express train accident | ” Rescue operation completed. The driver (Loco pilot) who disregarded the signal has died & also the guard of Kanchenjunga Express has lost his life. Help desks established at all railway stations along Agartala- Sealdah route, “… pic.twitter.com/9fPXhT3dAo
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2024
Fewer Fatalities Expected?
Despite the fact that the express train was crowded with people—many of whom were probably tourists visiting the hill station—the officials stated that they anticipated fewer fatalities because two of the three derailed cars contained cargo.
The search-and-rescue mission is now complete. It was earlier thought that a number of people would be stuck in the damaged coaches.
Helpline numbers for assistance and information regarding the derailment of Kanchenjunga Express in West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/ctwkZQc5m7
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) June 17, 2024
Condolences And Compensations Roll In From The Govt.
Both President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent their condolences to the bereaved families. The PM’s office has also declared that individuals injured in the accident will receive Rs 50,000 in compensation, while the kin of the deceased will receive Rs 200,000.
The Kanchanjunga Express Rescue Mission
A rescue mission was underway on a “war footing,” according to a statement made earlier by Railway Minister Ashiwini Vaishnaw. He’s on his way to the scene of the collision to assess the situation.
The authorities have released a number of helpline numbers in an effort to support anyone impacted by the accident.
The compensation package provided by the Railways is as follows: Rs 1 million for the surviving family members of the deceased, Rs 250,000 for victims with severe injuries, and Rs 50,000 for sufferers with mild injuries.
Earlier, images and videos posted by residents went viral on social media, displaying a passenger train compartment suspended in midair as a result of the crash and goods train carriages toppling over the tracks.
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