Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express West Bengal train wreck LIVE updates: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday conveyed condelences to families of those killed in the train accident in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district which saw a goods train slam into the Kanchanjungha Express near Rangapani station in West Bengal on June 17 morning. He slammed the PM Modi-led government's track record on railway safety and attributed the increase in railway accidents over the last decade to "mismanagement and negligence."
The Monday morning collision near New Jalpaiguri took place because a goods train disregarded the signal and hit the Kanchanjungha Express, the chairperson of the Railway Board has said. Chairperson Jaya Varma Sinha stated that five people died in the incident, however, some local reports attributed to railway officials suggested the death count could be as high as 15.
"About fifty passengers have been injured and they have been admitted to the North Bengal Medical College," Sinha said.
At least 15 people were left dead, and about 60 injured in a train collision in West Bengal's Darjeeling district during the early hours of June 17. Rescue operations were ongoing after a goods train crashed into the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express near Rangapani station in West Bengal on June 17 morning. The accident took place about seven km from Bengal's New Jalpaiguri station. The injured persons are being taken to nearby hospitals. At least two compartments of the Kanchenjunga Express were derailed after the collision. Railway officials stated that the accident took place around 9 am.
At least 60 people were left injured in the accident, reported PTI. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) reached the site at 11 am. "A gas cutter will be used to clear goods train debris; local ambulances have been arranged for people," Police told local media channels.
The two rear compartments were wrecked under the impact of the collision from behind by the locomotive of the goods train near Rangapani station, about seven km from North Bengal's New Jalpaiguri station, an official said.Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a post on X, 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.”
The 13174 Kanchanjunga Express was bound for Sealdah from Agartala when the accident took place, a railway official said
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