Kanchanjungha Express disaster: All the train accidents India has experienced in the last 2 years

India has witnessed a series of unfortunate train accidents in the last two years, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. The incidents have raised serious concerns about railway safety and highlighted the need for stringent measures to prevent such tragedies. Here is a detailed look at some of the major train accidents that have occurred in recent times.

Train accident on the Kanchanjunga Express

The accident occurred on June 17, 2024 at approximately 8:45 am at Ruidhasa near Rangapani railway station in Katihar Railway Division, before New Jalpaiguri Junction. The accident occurred in Siliguri district of Darjeeling district.

The Kanchanjungha Express, travelling from Agartala in Tripura to Sealdah in Kolkata, was hit from behind by a goods train, said Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).

Pictures showed one of the bogies floating in the air. Indian Railways officials in Delhi are closely monitoring the situation.

Bihar North East Express derailment

On October 11, 2023, train no. 12506 Anand Vihar Terminal-Kamakhya Junction North East Express derailed near Raghunathpur railway station in Buxar district of Bihar. Six coaches derailed, resulting in four fatalities and injuring over 70 passengers. The derailment prompted an investigation into the causes and highlighted the urgent need for better maintenance and safety protocols on the railways.

Train accident in Andhra Pradesh

On October 29, 2023, a devastating collision occurred between two passenger trains in Vizianagaram district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train collided with the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada passenger train, resulting in the death of 14 passengers. The accident was attributed to signaling faults and human error, sparking debates on modernizing railway signaling systems to prevent such incidents in the future.

Fire on Lucknow-Rameshwaram Bharat Gaurav train

On August 25, 2023, a fire broke out in the Bharat Gaurav train between Lucknow and Rameshwaram. Nine people died and 20 passengers were injured. Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was sparked by a gas cylinder that passengers had smuggled into the coach for cooking. Passengers from Uttar Pradesh travelling in a special IRCTC train lost their lives when a fire engulfed two coaches of the Bharat Gaurav tourist train near Bodi Lane, about a kilometre from Madurai Railway Junction.

Fire in the Falaknuma Express

On July 7, 2023, three coaches of the Falaknuma Express to Howrah caught fire between Bommaipally and Pagidipally in Telangana. No one was injured. The quick response of the railway authorities in evacuating the passengers helped prevent a major disaster. However, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, which underscores the need for improved fire safety measures in trains.

Derailment on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway

The last coach of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway’s four-car train from Ooty to Mettupalayam derailed near Coonoor railway station on June 8, 2023. There were no injuries or casualties, but the incident raised concerns about the safety of the heritage trains that run on challenging terrain.

Derailment of the Jan Shatabdi Express between Vijayawada and Chennai

A coach of the Vijayawada-Chennai Central Jan Shatabdi Express derailed near Basin Bridge station near Chennai on June 9, 2023. No one was injured. The accident highlighted the potential risks in daily rail operations and the importance of regular maintenance and inspections.

Fire in the Falaknuma Express

On July 7, 2023, three coaches of the Falaknuma Express to Howrah caught fire between Bommaipally and Pagidipally in Telangana. No one was injured. The quick response of the railway authorities in evacuating the passengers helped prevent a major disaster. However, the cause of the fire is still under investigation, which underscores the need for improved fire safety measures in trains.

Train derailment on the Jan Shatabdi Express

On June 9, 2023, a coach of the Vijayawada-Chennai Central Jan Shatabdi Express derailed near Basin Bridge station. The derailment was a reminder of the potential risks in daily railway operations and the importance of regular maintenance and inspections.