Kolkata, News Agency : 15 people were killed and 60 others injured in the accident when the Kanchenjunga Express passenger train collided with a freight train coming from behind. Due to heavy rains near Darjeeling in West Bengal, the loco pilot of the freight train did not see the signal. So this accident happened. Five coaches of the Kanchenjunga Express were also heavily damaged in the accident.
Immediately after the accident, rescue operations were started. So far 15 bodies have been recovered. The injured have been admitted to the hospital. The dead include two loco pilots and a guard.
Kanchenjunga Express was traveling from Agartala in Tripura to Sealdah in West Bengal. The express was stopped near Ruidha near Rangpani station in Siliguri as there was a red signal on the way and suddenly a goods train coming from behind hit the train. It was raining heavily at this time. Therefore, the prima facie reason is that the pilot of the freight train did not see the signal and the accident took place.
As the freight train was speeding, the impact was so strong that one coach of the express train climbed onto the engine of the freight train and hung in the air from the freight train. The engine compartment of the freight train literally burst. This coach did not exist and the loco pilot and all in it.
Two other coaches were derailed. Rescue operations were carried out by the Railways and other government departments along with National and State Disaster Management Departments. Local people also actively participated in this. The Collector along with the Superintendent of Police doctor also reached the spot. The injured were rushed to the hospital in ambulances.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have expressed grief over the accident. Railway Board Chairperson and CEO Jaya Verma Sinha said that the driver and assistant driver of the freight train and the guard of the Kanchenjunga Express train were killed in the incident.
10 lakhs to the families of the deceased
The Ministry of Railways has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the families of those killed in the accident, Rs 2.5 lakh to the seriously injured and Rs 50 thousand to the minor injured.
Support from Prime Minister too
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 50 lakh. The families of each deceased will be given Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. 50 thousand rupees will be given to the injured.