Kanchanjungha Express accident LIVE UPDATES: Reacting to the fatal train accident, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “Unfortunate accident in NFR zone. Rescue operations going on at war footing. Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination.”
Kanchanjunga Express Accident LIVE UPDATES
Eight people, including three Railway employees, have died and about 50 others injured after an express train collided with a goods train in Darjeeling district of West Bengal this morning. Kanchanjunga Express was travelling from Agartala in Tripura to Sealdah in Kolkata when a goods train hit it from behind near Rangapani station, close to New Jalpaiguri.
Railway Board chairperson Jaya Verma Sinha
Railway Board chairperson Jaya Verma Sinha told the media that the accident took place around 9 am. “The rescue work is complete. The injured have been shifted to the North Bengal medical college and they are being provided the best possible treatment,” she said.
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said doctors and disaster response teams have been rushed to the spot. “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,” she posted on X.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has left for the accident spot. He has said in a post on X that rescue operations have started on a war footing. “Unfortunate accident in NFR zone. Rescue operations going on at war footing. Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination. Injured are being shifted to the hospital. Senior officials have reached site,” he said.
President Droupadi Murmu
President Droupadi Murmu said the news of loss of lives in the train accident is “deeply distressing”. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and success of relief and rescue operations,” she said in a post on X.