A signal disregard on the part of the locomotive driver caused the Kanchanjunga train accident that was hit by a goods train, Jaya Varma Sinha Chairman & CEO Railway Board said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed condolences over the Kanchanjunga Express accident in West Bengal’s Siliguri. Fifteen people died while over 60 were injured when a goods train hit the Kolkata-bound train, according to PTI.
“The railway accident in West Bengal is saddening. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to officials and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to assist the affected,” Modi said on X.
The train was on its way to the Sealdah station when a goods train rammed into it from the rear. The mishap occurred after the train left the New Jalpaiguri Station.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office has announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased while the severely injured will be given Rs 2.5 lakh while those with minor injuries will be given Rs 50,000.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is on his way to Darjeeling to oversee the search and rescue operation carried out by NDRF teams.
How did the accident occur?
According to railway officials, a container train overshot the signal and hit the rear portion of the Kanchanjunga train.
The train has two parcel vans and a guard coach in its rear that were directly impacted by the collision.
The Kanchanjunga Express was en route to the Sealdah Station when a goods train rammed into it from the rear. The impact of the collision derailed two rear compartments of the train, as per the divisional railway manager of North Frontier Railway’s Katihar division.
Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman & CEO Railway Board said that the accident was caused by human error as first indications suggest that the case was a result of signal disregard. The driver and the guard have also died in the accident.
NDRF teams, ambulances rushed to spot
The Northeast Frontier Railway has launched several helpline numbers at various stations.
Meanwhile, National Disaster Response Force teams have been rushed to the spot to carry out rescue operations while ambulances are on standby for injured people.
About the Kanchanjunga Express
A daily train that connects West Bengal with the Northeastern cities of Silchar and Agartala, the Kanchanjunga Express is usually boarded by tourists travelling to Darjeeling.
The train route is in the Chicken’s Neck corridor, which connects the northeast with the rest of the country.
An accident on the route can impact the movement of several other trains.
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PM Modi announces ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh after 5 people died in Kanchanjunga Express collision
