WB: 5 dead, dozens injured as goods train rams into Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express

Five people were killed, while more than two dozen others sustained grievous injuries after a goods train rammed into the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express (13174) in north Bengal on Monday morning.

Officials said that the around 25 injured passengers were rescued and provided first aid before being rushed to hospitals.

Abhishek Roy, additional SP of Darjeeling, told media persons that five bodies had been recovered.

The train was coming from Agartala and heading to Sealdah station in Kolkata when the incident took place around 8:30am nearly 11km from New Jalpaiguri station in north Bengal, one of the largest and busiest stations in the Northeast Frontier Railway zone in eastern and northeastern India.

“Unfortunate accident in NFR zone. Rescue operations going on at war footing. Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination. Injured are being shifted to the hospital. Senior officials have reached site,” railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on X.

At least two bogies of the passenger train were derailed due to the collision, officials said.

“Shocked to learn just now about a tragic train accident in Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. While details are awaited, Kanchenjunga Express has reportedly been hit by a goods train. The DM, SP, doctors, ambulances and disaster teams have been rushed to the site for rescue, recovery, medical assistance. Action on war-footing initiated,” West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee wrote on X.

Prima facie, it appears that the goods train overshot the signal and hit the rear portion of Kanchanjungha train, an official said, adding that the Railway Board is closely monitoring the situation.

The National Disaster Response Force, the divisional team and 15 ambulances are at the site for rescue operations, an NFR official said.