By Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: Total seven railway passengers and two train staff/crew members were killed in major train accident this morning between Rangapani and Chatterhat stations under Katihar division of North Frontier Railway. The accident occurred as a goods train carrying container rammed into rear of 13174 Down Agartala-Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express. Following the accident four coaches of Kanchanjungha Express from rear side and five wagons of the goods train were derailed.
The site of accident in Darjeeling district of West Bengal is located approximately at distance of ten kilometers from New Jalpaiguri station. As per railway press note in the accident nine passengers sustained grievous injuries while 32 others sustained minor injuries.
The ill-fated passenger train that left Agartala on June 16 and was on way to Sealdah met with the accident at around 8.55 AM today. As per railways the accident occurred as goods train carrying container overshot signal and rammed into Kanchanjungha Express from rear.
The coaches of passenger train damaged in accident included guard coach and parcel van. Under supervision of senior zonal and divisional officials of railways relief and rescue operations started soon after the accident.
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also visited site of accident and met the injured passengers admitted at North Bengal Medical College Hospital at Siliguri for treatment. Following the accident, the Kanchenjunga Express left for its destination after damaged coaches of the train were detached.
Meanwhile railway has announced ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakhs to the next of kin of each deceased, Rs two lakh for passengers who sustained grievous injuries and Rs 50000 for passengers who suffered minor injury in the accident.
Normal movement of trains were disrupted in the section as result of the accident. The trains that were diverted via New Jalpaiguri, Silguri Junction, Bagdogra and Aluabari Road route following the accident included; –
1. 19602New Jalpaiguri-Udaipur City Weekly Express of 17.06.24
2. 20503 Dibrugarh- New Delhi Rajdhani Express of 16.06.24
3. 12423Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express of 16.06.24
4. 0166 Agartala- Rani Kamalapati Special Train of 16.06.24
5. 12377 Sealdah-New Alipurduar Padatik Express of 16.06.24
6. 06105 Nagercoil Junction – Dibrugarh special of 14.06.24
7. 20506 New Delhi- Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express of 16.06.24
8. 12424 New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express of 16.06.24
9. 22301 Howrah- New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express of 17.06.24
10.12346 Guwahati- Howrah Saraighat Express of 17.06.24
11.12505 Kamakhya-Anand Vihar North East Express of 17.06.24
12.12510 Guwahati- Bengaluru Express of 17.06.24
13.22302 New Jalpaiguri- Howrah Vande Bharat Express of 17.06.24
14.15620 Kamakhya – Gaya Express of 17.06.24
15.15962 Dibrugarh – Howrah Kamrup Express of 17.06.24
16.15636 Guwahati- Okha Express of 17.06.24
17.15930 New Tinsukia -Tambaram Express of 17.06.24
18.13148 Bamanhat -Sealdah Uttar Banga Express of 17.06.24
19.22504 Dibrugarh-Kanyakumari Express of 17.06.24
20.13142 New Alipurduar-Sealdah Teesta Torsa Express of 17.06.24
21.12344 Haldibari- Sealdah Darjeeling Mail of 17.06.24
22.12378 New Alipurduar – Sealdah Padatik Express of 17.06.24
23.15651 Guwahati- Jammu Tawi Lohit Express of 17.06.24
24.15658 Kamakhya -Delhi Brahmaputra Mail of 17.06.24
Meanwhile efforts are underway for early restoration of normal movement of trains in the section. For convenience of passengers help booths have been opened beside help line number facilities have been started by eastern railway at different station.
Sealdah: 033-23508794 (DOT), 033-23833326 (Auto Telephone)
Howrah: 033-26413660 (Help Desk), 033-26402242, 033- 26402243 (Enquiry)
Malda Town: 03512-266000 (BSNL), 9046002982
New Farakka: 7595046555
Kolkata Station: 033-25550119
Writer Avijit Biswas, former principal correspondent of Hindustan Times Bhagalpur bureau, can be contacted at biswasavijit@yahoo.comContact number (mobile): +919431095516
