Goods train rams into Kanchanjunga Express at West Bengal's Siliguri; 5 dead

Five people died, and over 30 were injured after a goods train rammed into the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express at West Bengal's Siliguri on Monday morning. The incident happened near New Jalpaiguri station in Darjeeling district around 9 am, Railway officials said. 

The Kanchanjunga Express had started its journey from New Jalpaiguri Station to Sealdah Station in Kolkata when a goods train rear-ended it. 

The four rear compartments were derailed under the impact of the collision from behind by the locomotive of the goods train near Rangapani station. At least two of them were cargo rooms.

"The situation is serious. The incident occurred when a goods train rammed into Kanchenjunga Express," Abhishek Roy, Additional SP of Darjeeling Police, told ANI. 

Local media reports said that the driver of the goods train is still trapped inside and is unresponsive. Rescue workers are using gas cutters to cut through the mangled remains of the engines of the freight train to rescue him. 

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a post on X, said: "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, and medical assistance. Action on war-footing initiated." 

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said NDRF and SDRF have rushed to the spot to undertake rescue operations. "Unfortunate accident in NFR zone. Rescue operations going on at war footing. Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination. The injured are being shifted to the hospital. Senior officials have reached the site," he posted on X. 

Vaishnaw is leaving for Darjeeling to visit the Kanchenjunga Express train accident site. 

A passenger who had a miraculous escape told reporters that he suffered an injury on his head. "I was travelling in B1 coach when the train was hit. I have been rescued, I have suffered an injury on my head," he added.

The Railways has set up a help desk at Rangapani station. Over 10 buses have also been arranged to transport stranded passengers to their destination. "10 buses of North Bengal Rashtriya Paribahan Nigam have left for the accident site to rescue stranded passengers of the Sealdah-bound Kanchenjunga Express. Additional bus services from Siliguri-Kolkata from Siliguri Tenzing Norgay bus terminus will be operational from this afternoon," Partha Pratim Roy, chairman, North Bengal Rashtriya Paribahan Nigam (NBSTC) told ANI.