Photo Credit: ANI
Five killed and several injured In a tragic incident in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, five individuals have lost their lives and approximately 20-25 others have sustained injuries following a collision between a goods train and the Sealdah-bound Kanchenjunga Express near New Jalpaiguri station. The collision occurred early on June 17th at the Rangapani area within the Katihar Railway Division, just before reaching New Jalpaiguri Junction around 8:45 a.m.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock over the incident, stating, “I am deeply saddened to learn about the tragic train accident in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. While we await further details, reports indicate that the Kanchenjunga Express was struck by a goods train.”
Providing details, a senior official from the North Frontier Railway confirmed, “Five passengers have lost their lives and 20-25 others have been injured in the collision. The situation remains grave, as the goods train collided forcefully with the Kanchenjunga Express.”
In response to the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased. Meanwhile, efforts to assist those affected are ongoing, with increased state bus services facilitating easier transport for commuters in the vicinity. Ten buses from the North Bengal Rashtriya Paribahan Nigam have already been dispatched to the site to aid stranded passengers, with additional services scheduled to begin later in the day.
For those seeking information or assistance regarding the accident, helpline numbers have been made available:
- West Bengal Kanchenjunga Express train accident helpline: 033-23508794, 033-23833326
- GHY Station helpline: 03612731621, 03612731622, 03612731623
The incident has prompted authorities to undertake swift response measures and support operations to manage the aftermath of this tragic event.
