Goods train rams into Kanchanjungha Express; about 10 dead, over 40 hurt

‘An inquiry will be held at ADRM, NJP's chamber from 10 am on June 19 onwards'

- SANCHITA AICH BAG

The collision between a freight train and the rear of the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express at Rangapani on Monday, which claimed the lives of at least 10 people and injured about 44 passengers, conjured haunting memories of the devastating train disaster at Bahanaga Bazar Railway Station in Odisha on June 2 last year, where 293 lives were tragically lost.

The accident, the cause of which has been largely attributed to human error, occurred in Nirmaljyot, nestled between Rangapani and Chatterhat under the Phansidewa block in Siliguri.

Among the deceased were the pilot of the goods train and the guard of the passenger train, stated officials of the Railways.

According to the Railway’s announcement, earlier in the evening, the collision claimed the lives of 9 people and left another nine individuals gravely injured with nearly 38 others suffering minor injuries.

“Prima facie, it appears to be a human error but we will know more after the inquiry,” Railway Board chairperson Jaya Varma Sinha told reporters. “Unfortunately, the driver (of the goods train) also perished in the accident… So we have no authentic way of knowing what exactly happened. Whatever we can gather from the situation, it seems there was a disregard for the signal,” Sinha added.

The injured passengers were admitted to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) for treatment. The incident occurred around 8:55 am on Monday, approximately 10 kilometres from the New Jalpaiguri Railway Station. The force of the collision derailed four coaches of the Express train and five wagons of the freight train, blocking train movements on both the Up and Down lines. Alleging that the Railways have become “parentless”, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who rushed to Siliguri to oversee the rescue works, on Monday claimed that the Railways was only keen on increasing fares and not improving passenger amenities and safety.