Many individuals were at risk of losing their lives, and numerous others were wounded when a minimum of two rear compartments of the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express veered off the tracks on June 17 following a collision with a goods train near New Jalpaiguri station in West Bengal. The event occurred in the Rangapani region within the Katihar Railway Division just before the New Jalpaiguri Junction at approximately 8:45 a.m. today.
Tragically, five individuals lost their lives, and more than 20 people sustained severe injuries following the collision between the Sealdah-bound 13174 Kanchanjungha Express and a goods train near New Jalpaiguri on Monday morning. The incident took place around 9 am close to Rangapani, near the New Jalpaiguri station. According to a senior North Frontier Railway (NFR) official, eight passengers have lost their lives, and 20-25 individuals have been injured in this devastating accident.
The collision led to the derailment of at least two rear compartments of the Kanchanjungha Express when the locomotive of the goods train crashed into the express train from behind, resulting in significant damage and the derailment of the compartments.
The DRM of NFR’s Katihar division mentioned that the collision’s impact caused the rear compartments of the train to derail near Rangapani station, which is approximately seven kilometers from New Jalpaiguri station.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee shared her shock and concern regarding the incident. In a post on X, she expressed, “Just got the news of a tragic train accident in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. The details are still coming in, but it seems that the Kanchenjunga Express was hit by a goods train.”
She added, “The District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, medical teams, ambulances, and disaster response units have been swiftly dispatched to the scene for rescue operations,” she mentioned.
Union Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also addressed the incident, stating, “A regrettable accident in the NFR zone. Rescue efforts are underway with great urgency. Railways, NDRF, and SDRF are collaborating closely. The injured are being transferred to hospitals, and senior officials have arrived at the site.”
