Nine people were killed and at least 40 injured after the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express from Agartala was hit by a goods train from the rear in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, 11 km from New Jalpaiguri station. The dead include seven passengers, the loco pilot of the Amingaon (Assam)-Jharsuguda (Odisha) goods train, and another railway staffer. The casualties also include Kanchanjunga Express train guard Ashish Dey.
According to reports, Ashish Dey did not return home after starting the journey with the Kanchanjunga Express train at seven in the morning. Before he went to work, he gave chocolate to his little girl and told her that he would return by night. This tragic accident has cast a shadow of grief on Ward No. 32 of Siliguri.
Ashish Dey started the journey from New Jalpaiguri station with the guard duty of the down Kanchanjunga Express train. After some time, Ashish’s family came to know that the train had met with an accident some distance from Rangapani station. At nine in the morning, the family members got the news of Ashish’s death. After hearing such news, Ashish’s family, including his wife and children, were in shock.
The latest report suggests that in the Kanchanjunga Express accident, the pile of dead bodies is increasing at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, and many passengers are injured. So far, the death toll is over eight, and the number of injured is 60. The train accident that happened on Monday morning brought back memories of the terrible train accident that happened on August 2, 1999, at Gaishal.
Kanchanjunga Express Accident: What We Know So Far
The Kanchanjunga Express train runs from Silchar in Assam to Sealdah in Kolkata. It was coming to Sealdah from Agartala when the goods train hit it from behind, near Rangapani station. The Loco pilot, assistant driver of the goods train, and guard of the Kanchanjunga Express train have died in the incident, according to Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the site of the train collision at Rangapani and took stock of the situation. Several trains were diverted to an alternate parallel route due to the accident. So far, over ten trains have been diverted, including the Rajdhani.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha stated on Monday that every family member of Tripura passengers who died in the Kanchanjunga Express train accident will receive Rs 2 lakh in compensation.
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