Kanchanjunga Express and freight train collide in Darjeeling, West Bengal, rescue operations underway

Nine people were killed and around 50 passengers were injured when a goods train collided with the Kanchanjunga Express, which was travelling to Kolkata from Silchar, Assam, in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. The goods train rammed the passenger express from behind near Rangapani railway station, near New Jalpaiguri. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was seen riding a motorcycle to the accident site. Prime Minister Modi reviewed the situation.

The force of the impact caused two coaches of the passenger train to derail. The Kanchanjunga Express is a daily train that connects Bengal with the northeastern cities of Silchar and Agartala. This route lies in the Chicken’s Neck corridor that connects the northeast with the rest of the country.

“I am shocked to learn of a tragic train accident in Phansidewa area of ​​Darjeeling district right now. While further details are awaited, the Kanchenjunga Express was reportedly hit by a goods train. DM, SP, doctors, ambulances and disaster management teams have been sent to the accident site for rescue, recovery and medical care. War footing action has been initiated,” Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X.

Here are the LIVE updates on the train accident:

What is Kavach? Safety system missing on Bengal route where trains crashed

Kavach, the system developed in India to avoid accidents when two trains are travelling on the same route, was not available on the tracks in Darjeeling where the two trains collided today. At least eight passengers were killed and over 50 others were injured when a goods train rammed the Kolkata-bound Kanchanjunga Express from behind.

As an old video of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw explaining the Kavach system went viral following today’s accident, officials said the system was not yet installed in large parts of the rail network.

“The Railways plans to deploy the security system on the Delhi-Guwahati route. The aim is to cover over 6,000 km of tracks by next year. Bengal is among the 3,000 km of tracks to be protected by Kavach this year. The system will be deployed on the Delhi-Howrah route,” Railway Board Chairman Jaya Varma Sinha told NDTV. Read more.

Kanchanjunga Express accident LIVE: Train driver and assistant among three railway employees killed in collision in Bengal

Three railway employees were among the eight people killed when a goods train rammed into the Silchar-Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express at 8.55 am today, railway officials said.

The freight train, which had allegedly run over a signal, collided with the passenger train on the same track at around 8:55 a.m. Three carriages of the express train derailed, one of them climbing onto the locomotive of the freight train due to the force of the impact.

At least five passengers and three railway employees – the train driver and assistant driver of the freight train and the conductor of the express train – were killed and nearly 50 others injured. Officials say the number of victims could have been much higher if the last two carriages of the express train had not been the conductor’s carriage and the freight carriage. Read more.

Accident on the Kanchanjunga Express LIVE:
The unaffected portion of the Kanchanjunga Express has left the construction site for Malda in West Bengal. The passengers have been provided with food and water. Restoration work at the construction site is underway.

Kanchanjunga Express disaster LIVE: Rs 10 lakh compensation for train accident victims

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced higher compensation for the victims of the Kanchanjunga Express accident.

The victims will be granted increased voluntary compensation.
₹10 Lakh in case of death,
₹2.5 lakh for serious injuries and ₹50,000 for minor injuries.

– Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) June 17, 2024

Accident on the Kanchanjunga Express LIVE:
Four coaches of the Kanchenjungha Express along with five containers and the locomotive of the goods train were involved in the collision. The rest of the Kanchenjunga Express was removed from the accident site.

Accident on the Kanchanjunga Express LIVE:

Due to the accident, several trains have been diverted to an alternative parallel route, railway officials say. So far, around 10 trains have been diverted, including Rajdhani. The cause of the accident is still unknown.

Accident on the Kanchanjunga Express LIVE:

According to the railway, among the eight fatalities in the accident were a train driver, a locomotive driver and another railway employee.

Accident on the Kanchanjunga Express LIVE:

Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, will soon leave Kolkata airport. She is on her way to the accident site in Rangapani.

Accident on the Kanchanjunga Express LIVE:
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is expected to reach the accident site in two hours

Train accident in West Bengal LIVE: Prime Minister Modi takes stock of the situation at the accident site

The West Bengal rail accident is sad. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover as soon as possible. I have spoken to officials and taken stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to assist the affected people. Railway Minister Shri…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 17, 2024

Train accident in West Bengal LIVE: Rescue work at the accident site is underway

• The locomotive of the freight trains is cut open with a gas cutter
• Another train will be organized to take the passengers from NJP to Sealdah

Train accident in West Bengal LIVE:
Union Minister JP Nadda urges BJP workers in Bengal to help in the rescue operation.

I am deeply saddened by the tragic train accident in Darjeeling district of West Bengal. My deepest condolences go out to those who have lost their loved ones and I pray for a speedy recovery to the injured. May God give strength to the grieving families at this hour…

– Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 17, 2024

Train accident in West Bengal LIVE – “Deeply disturbing”: President Droupadi Murmu on the Kanchanjungha Express collision

The news of the loss of life in a train accident in Darjeeling, West Bengal, is deeply disturbing. My thoughts and prayers are with the grieving families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and the success of the relief and rescue efforts.

– President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 17, 2024

Train accident in West Bengal LIVE: Naveen Patnaik on the collision with the Kanchanjungha Express

Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life after #KanchanjunghaExpress had an accident in #WestBengal. In this hour of grief, my thoughts and prayers are with the grieving families and I pray for a speedy recovery for those hospitalized following the …

– Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 17, 2024

Accident on the Kanchanjunga Express LIVE:
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw leaves for the scene of the accident.

Accident on the Kanchanjunga Express LIVE:

A tragic accident has occurred in the NFR zone. Swift rescue operations are underway, coordinated by Railways, NDRF and SDRF. The injured are being rushed to hospitals. Senior officials are at the spot and monitoring the situation. #NFRaccident#RescueOperations

– Ravneet Singh Bittu (@RavneetBittu) June 17, 2024

Kanchanjungha Express freight train collides in Darjeeling: What we know so far

Latest information on the train accident in Darjeeling

▪️ Freight train collides with the Kanchanjunga Express bound for Kolkata.

▪️ The accident occurred at Rangapani station near Jalpaiguri.

▪️ No casualties have been reported so far.

▪️ Rescue operations are underway.

WATCH: ‘The situation is serious’: Deputy Superintendent of Darjeeling Police

#REGARD | “Five passengers died in the accident and 20 to 25 were injured. The situation is serious. The incident occurred when a goods train crashed into the Kanchenjunga Express,” said Abhishek Roy, deputy SP of Darjeeling police. pic.twitter.com/5YQM8LdzLo

– ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2024

WATCH: Sealdah Eastern Railway sets up control panel at Rangapani station

#REGARD | Sealdah Eastern Railway sets up a control counter at Rangapani railway station after the Kanchenjunga Express train was rammed by a goods train at Ruidhasa in Darjeeling district of West Bengal.

Senior ticket inspector Raju Prashad Yadav says: “We have not received any calls yet. Two … pic.twitter.com/TgBkiJsp9P

– ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2024

Helpline numbers for Sealdah, Guwahati, Katihar and Lumding railway stations

Sealdah Helpline Number

033-23508794

033-23833326

Guwahati Railway Station Helpline Number

03612731621

03612731622

03612731623

Katihar Helpline Number

09002041952

9771441956

Lumding Helpline Number

03674263958

03674263831

03674263120

03674263126

03674263858

BREAKING NEWS: 5 dead and 25 injured after collision between Kanchanjungha Express and goods train
Police confirmed that five passengers were killed and more than 25 others injured in the train accident.

Pictures from the accident site show destroyed train carriages

“Unfortunate accident, rescue operations underway”: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Unfortunate accident in NFR zone. Rescue operations are in full swing. Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working closely together. Injured are being taken to hospital. Senior officials are at the spot.

– Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) June 17, 2024