At least nine people, including train staffers, died while over forty others were injured after the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express collided with a goods train on Monday morning at Ruidhasa near Rangapani station under Siliguri subdivision of West Bengal's Darjeeling district. The accident took place at around 9 am.
The goods train reportedly rammed into it the 13174 Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express. Rescue operations are currently underway. Kanchanjungha Express Train Accident LIVE Updates
Kanchanjungha Express Train Accident Top Points
Kanchanjungha Train Accident: Three rear compartments of the express train derailed under the impact of the collision from behind by the locomotive of the goods train, railway officials said. "The situation is serious. The incident occurred when a goods train rammed into Kanchenjunga Express," Abhishek Roy, Additional SP of Darjeeling Police, said.
'Signal Jump Likely Cause, Kavach Needs To Be Used More': Visuals from the spot showed a wagon of Kanchenjunga Express train suspended in the air after it collided with the goods train. Chairman & CEO Railway Board Jaya Varma Sinha said prime facie human error seems to be the cause, adding that the first indications suggest that this is a case of signal disregard. "Kavach needs to be proliferated, planned for West Bengal," said Jaya Varma Sinha.
Signal Was Defective Since 5:50 AM, Says Railway Source: The automatic signalling system between Ranipatra Railway Station and Chattar Hat Junction in West Bengal, where the goods train hit Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express in the rear, was defective since 5.50 in the morning, according to a railway source cited by news agency PTI. "Train No 13174 (Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express) departed Rangapani station at 8:27 am and stopped between Ranipatra railway station and Chattar Hat due to automatic signalling failure from 5:50 am," the source told PTI.
According to another railway official, when the automatic signalling system fails, the station master issues a written authority called TA 912, which authorises the driver to cross all red signals in the section because of the defect.
Goods train driver not at fault: It has been reported that the document, a written authority called TA 912, was issued to the driver of the goods train by the station master of Ranipatra which allowed him to cross all red signals. As per the railway rules, when the automatic signalling system fails, the station master issues a written authority called TA 912 that authorises the driver to cross all red signals in the section because of the defect.
PM Modi Reacts: Reacting to the railway accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the incident in West Bengal is saddening and offered condolences to those who lost their loved ones. "I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. "Spoke to officials and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to assist the affected," PM Modi said.
What West Bengal CM Said: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on microblogging platform X that district magistrate (DM), superintendent of police (SP), doctors, ambulances and disaster teams have been rushed to the site for rescue, recovery and medical assistance, adding that "action on war-footing" has been initiated.
"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. DM, SP, doctors, ambulances and disaster teams have been rushed to the site for rescue, recovery, medical assistance. Action on war-footing initiated," Mamata Banerjee's X post read.
Railway Minister Reacts: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also posted on microblogging platform X that rescue operations are going on at war footing, "Unfortunate accident in NFR zone. Rescue operations going on at war footing. Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination. The injured are being shifted to the hospital. Senior officials have reached the site," he said.
Railway Minister Rushes To Site, Ex Gratia Announced: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the train accident. The minister, visited the mishap site to take stock of relief operations after the accident, also announced a sum of Rs 2.5 lakh for those grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries.
PM Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured.
3 Train Staffers Among Victims: The victims of the West Bengal train accident included driver and assistant driver of the goods train that hit Kanchanjungha Express from behind, causing some of its wagons to derail, and guard of the passenger.
Goods Train Driver Not At Fault, Docs Say: The driver of the goods train that rammed into the Kanchanjunga Express between Ranipatra Railway Station and Chattar Hat Junction in West Bengal on Monday was not at fault, documents suggested. The goods train was allowed to cross all red signals as the automatic signalling had "failed", internal documents show. The document, a written authority called TA 912, was issued to the driver of the goods train by the station master of Ranipatra, authorising him to cross all red signals, a railway source said.
