The drone visuals from Phansidewa area of West Bengal’s Darjeeling, where nine people died in a collision between Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express and a goods train on Monday morning, show the restoration work underway to clear the tracks.
Among the nine dead in the Kanchanjunga Express train accident are seven passengers and two railway staffers. More than 60 others have been injured in the mishap that occurred round 8:30 am, about 11 kilometres from New Jalpaiguri station in north Bengal.
Reason for Kanchanjunga Express accident?
According to preliminary investigation, the cause of the accident is being said to be human error, as the driver of the goods train overshot the signal.
The collision reportedly occurred after the goods train “overshooted” signal and hit a rear portion of the Kanchanjunga Express train.
As per reports, three rear compartments of the Kanchanjunga Express derailed as a result of the massive collision, with one coach being flung into the air.
Jaya Varma Sinha, the chairperson of the Railway Board, said a guard’s coach and two parcel vans of Kanchanjunga Express were destroyed, preventing damage to passenger coaches.
A report by PTI quote a source in the Indian Railways as saying that the automatic signalling system between Ranipatra station and Chattar Hat Junction in West Bengal, where the accident took place, was defective since 5.50 in the morning.
A total of 19 trains have been cancelled following the accident. The collision has blocked both Up and Down lines and halted movement of trains in the area, affecting long-distance train services from north Bengal and the northeastern part of the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives, calling the incident “saddening”.
PM Modi has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to each injured in the accident.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced enhanced compensation for the victims of Kanchanjunga Express accident.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced Rs 2 lakh compensation to the family members of any passenger from the state who died in Kanchanjunga Express.
With inputs from agencies
Link to article –
Harrowing drone visuals show Kanchanjunga Express, goods train collision site in West Bengal
