Kanchanjunga Express Crash News: Prime Minister Modi Oversees Response, Rail Minister Travels to Darjeeling

West Bengal Train Accident: A shooing train accident took place near Rangapani station, close to when a stock car train crashed with the Kanchanjunga Express from behind.

The frightening incident took place on Monday morning when the Kanchanjunga Express which runs daily on the same route was returning to Kolkata from Darjeeling.

The 13174 Kanchanjunga Express was near the New Jalpaiguri when a stock car train came from behind and hit the train hard which led to the derailing of two passenger coaches.

As per the reports, 8 deaths including a locomotive pilot, a motorman, and one other railway worker. and more than 25 passengers have been reported however rescue operations are still ongoing, and more details are awaited.

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Kanchanjunga Express runs daily from Kolkata to Silchar in Assam and runs at an average speed of 45 km/h covering 45 stations.

Photos and videos from the incident area showed that the carriage cars were scattered on the open area beside the railway tracks.

Photos also showed that one of the two passenger coaches was crushed due to the impact and the other one was struck on the air only the front part was hitting the ground.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in a tweet 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.”

“DM, SP, doctors, ambulances and disaster teams have been rushed to the site for rescue, recovery, medical assistance. Action on war-footing initiated.”

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More than 15 ambulances were dispatched to the incident spot and all the trains to the route have been canceled.

Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a post on X, “Unfortunate accident in NFR zone. Rescue operations going on at war footing.”

He further said, “Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination. Injured are being shifted to the hospital. Senior officials have reached site.”

PM Narendra Modi also said in a tweet, "The railway accident in West Bengal is saddening. 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. The Railways Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw Ji is on the way to the site of the mishap as well."

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and CM Mamta Banerjee are soon to arrive at the incident spot in Rangapani

Furthermore, help desks have been set up in various stations including Sealdahand Rangapani stations to help worried people.

Every department and minister is doing their best to cope up with the incident and provide aid to the people as soon as possible.

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