A tragic accident involving the Kanchanjungha Express has resulted in the deaths of 8 individuals and left approximately 30 others injured.
The incident occurred on Monday between New Jalpaiguri and Rangapani stations when two compartments of the express train derailed following a collision with a goods train.
Abhishek Roy, Additional SP of Darjeeling District stated that the collision has claimed the lives of 8 people, with 25 to 30 individuals sustaining injuries.
He asserted that the rescue operations commenced swiftly after the incident, despite challenges posed by heavy rains in the region.
Teams from both the state government and Indian Railways mobilized immediately to assist in the rescue efforts.
Local residents have also lent a hand, aiding authorities in their endeavors.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed his condolences and confirmed that senior railway officials were overseeing the rescue operations.
“Unfortunate accident in the NFR zone. Rescue operations going on at war footing,” read a statement from Vaishnaw, highlighting the collaborative efforts between Railways, NDRF, and SDRF teams.
Rescue Teams Navigate Challenges In Derailment Aftermath
The rescue teams are facing multiple challenges, including adverse weather conditions and the precarious state of the affected compartments.
Officials have opted for a cautious approach, refraining from the use of gas cutters to avoid endangering any potential survivors trapped within the wreckage.
“We are proceeding with the manual process to reposition the compartments, which is slow due to the rainfall,” remarked a state Disaster Management Department official at the scene.
As of now, 25 injured passengers have been extricated and transported to North Bengal Medical College & Hospital in Siliguri for treatment.
However, there are fears that the casualty figures could rise as rescue operations continue and the full extent of the trapped passengers becomes known.
Authorities are yet to ascertain the exact cause of the accident, with investigations ongoing.
Minister Vaishnaw has planned a visit to the site to assess the situation firsthand.
Eyewitnesses on board the Kanchanjungha Express described hearing multiple collisions contrary to initial reports, indicating a potentially more complex chain of events.
The situation remains fluid as rescue efforts persist amid challenging conditions.
Authorities continue to provide updates as they gather further details regarding this tragic incident.
This accident has cast a pall over the region, with families of passengers anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
The joint efforts of rescue teams and local communities are crucial in mitigating the impact of this devastating event.
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