Kanchanjunga Express Accident: Unaffected train portion reaches Malda town

After visiting the victims who were injured in the train accident in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, chief minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the central government over their alleged negligence towards Railways saying that they have only engaged in publicity of Vande Bharat trains.

“I started so many things, but they are only doing publicity of Vande Bharat trains. Where is Duronto Express? After the Rajdhani Express, Duronto was the fastest train. During the time of elections they inaugurate Vande Bharats. This does not work…” she said, according to ANI.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose met the injured of the Kanchenjunga Express train accident at North Bengal Medical College and said that all stakeholders should stand together in the hour of crisis, reported ANI.

“I saw the patients and discussed with the doctors, the situation is under control. They are being given the best treatment. They are being given the best medical facilities. This is a tragedy in which we will all stand together. All steps will be taken for the rehabilitation of those admitted to the hospital,” Bose said.

The unaffected portion of Kanchanjunga Express has reached Malda town in West Bengal, reports PTI.

At least nine people were killed and 41 injured after a goods train rammed into the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express from behind in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district earlier today.

Hours after the train accident in West Bengal, which left nine people dead and dozens injured, top officials of the Indian Railways claimed that prima facie it was a human error which led to the accident.

“A goods train disregarded the signal and hit the Kanchanjunga Express from the rear. Prima facie it appears to be a human error. We will be able to know more about it after the enquiry. He (the driver of the goods train) was supposed to stop but it appears he didn’t stop. These are the first indications,” Jaya Verma Sinha, CEO and chairperson of the railway board told the media in New Delhi. Read more.

“I got the information at around 9 am. We sent medical vans with a team of doctors to the accident spot. The rescue operation was over within hours. I spoke to the patients,” says West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee after meeting the injured at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. (PTI)

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, while attacking BJP, said, “They (BJP) have so many talking points and beautification of words. It is just like fashion. But they don’t take care of passengers’ amenities.”

In a statement, the railway ministry said that nine people suffered grievous injuries and 32 simple or minor injuries.

The “Up line” has been cleared and train operations have started, it said and added that “the ‘Down line’ will also be cleared shortly.

Following the train mishap in Darjeeling of West Bengal, which claimed nine lives and left over 40 injured, the Tripura government has sent a 2-member team of officials of the state government to extend assistance to the injured, reports ANI.

The Opposition’s INDIA bloc on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government over the West Bengal train accident, which led to the death of at least seven passengers and two employees. Read here.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is at the North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri to meet those injured in the train accident, reports ANI.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has condoled the loss of lives in the train accident in West Bengal.

“The loss of life in the train accident in Darjeeling, West Bengal is extremely sad and heart-breaking. My condolences are with the bereaved families. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give a place to the departed souls in his feet and provide speedy recovery to the injured,” he wrote on X in Hindi.

A total of 9 people have died in the train accident in West Bengal. Among them were 7 passengers and 2 railway staff.

Nine persons are hospitalised with serious injuries, while 32 others suffered minor injuries.

Johnson Chettri and Kisan Chettri had a miraculous escape while two of their fellow passengers went missing after a speeding goods train rammed into the Kanchanjunga Express on Monday morning in Darjeeling district, killing around 9 people.

Giving a first-hand account of the accident, Kisan said, “It was around 8.30am when I heard a big bang and felt a sudden huge jerk. I was playing games on my mobile. Immediately, our coach started tumbling as commotion filled the air inside the coach.” Read more.

“Commission of Railway Safety will conduct a thorough investigation. Rescue operation has concluded and now the focus is on restoration, this is the main line. We will identify the reason behind this accident and will take proper preventive measures for the future,” says Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after reaching the accident site, according to PTI.

Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is at the train accident site in West Bengal’s Rangapani.

On Kanchenjunga Express train accident, Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda alleges that the increase in railway accidents in the last 10 years is a result of the mismanagement and negligence of the Centre towards the railways.

“On behalf of the Congress Party, we pay our condolences. We pray for the speedy recovery of all those injured. The increase in railway accidents in the last 10 years is a result of the mismanagement and negligence of the Central Government towards the railways. Due to which, the lives of passengers are being lost every day. As a responsible opposition, we will continue to question this negligence and will seek answers from the government in Parliament as well.”

Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has reached the accident site in West Bengal’s Rangapani, reports PTI

The goods train that rammed into a Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express in West Bengal killing at least eight people appeared to have “disregarded the signal” to stop, Railway Board chairperson Jaya Varma Sinha says.

“Prima facie, it appears to be human error but we will know more after the inquiry,” Sinha told reporters. “Unfortunately, the driver (of the cargo train) also perished in the accident… So we have no authentic way of knowing what exactly happened. Whatever we can gather from the situation, it seems there was a disregard for the signal,” she said. Read more.

The Kanchanjunga Express accident has once again brought attention to the Kavach anti-collision system, which is set to be installed on all rail routes in the country.

Kavach, which is a made-in-India system for trains specifically designed to prevent collisions, is not yet installed on the train tracks in Darjeeling, where the Kanchanjunga Express train accident happened. Read more.

Criticising the Railway ministry, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee says: “…They (Railway ministry) don’t care about passenger amenities. They don’t even care about railway officials, railway engineers, railway technical staff and workers. They are also in trouble. Their old pension has been withdrawn. I am completely with the railway employees and railway officials. They are trying their best.”

She adds: “But this government only cares about the election. How to go for hacking, how to go for manipulation, how to go for rig the election… I think they should give more time for the governance, not for utterance.”

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, before leaving for Darjeeling, says: “Our administration was alert even before the government of India received the information. I have also been monitoring the situation since 9 a.m. The entire administration, including the chief secretary, the DM, and the police… We have sent ambulances and doctors for the rescue operation.”

Puducherry chief minister N Rangasamy has expressed shock and deep sorrow over the death of passengers in the train accident in West Bengal.

Rangasamy said, “the mishap is a matter of deep sorrow, and I am shocked over the incident leaving several passengers dead. I convey my grief to the bereaved families.”

Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has reached the Bagdogra airport in West Bengal. He will soon leave for the Kanchenjunga Express train accident site in Darjeeling district, reports ANI.

A total of 19 trains have been cancelled so far on the New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri Junction, Bagdogra and Aluabari Road routes in the wake of the major train accident in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district.

The accident blocked both Up and Down lines and halted train movements in the area, affecting long-distance train services from north Bengal and the country’s northeastern part. Read more

The Tripura government is sending a team to the Kanchanjunga train accident site in West Bengal to provide all possible help to the passengers from the state, PTI reported, citing an official.

Tripura home secretary Pradip Kumar Chakravarty told reporters that chief minister Manik Saha has spoken to Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw over the accident and is personally monitoring the situation.

“The Kanchanjunga Express left Agartala station on Sunday. We have sought passenger data from the railway authority to check if there is any casualty from our state,” Chakravarty said, according to PTI.