Kanchanjunga Express train accident highlights: Restoration and rescue work underway, say officials

Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express wreck LIVE news updates: At least 15 people were dead and around 60 others injured after a goods train slammed into the Kanchanjhunga Express near New Jalpaiguri

6:26 PM

CM Adityanath condoles loss of lives in Bengal train accident

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences on Monday for the loss of lives in a train accident in West Bengal. According to officials, three rear coaches of the stationary Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express derailed this morning after a collision with a goods train in West Bengal's Darjeeling district.

6:14 PM

Railways totally parentless: CM Mamata alleges Centre keen on only raising fares

"The railways have become totally parentless. Though the ministry is there, the old glory is missing. Only beautification is being done, but they do not care about passenger amenities. They are only keen on hiking fares," she claimed.

5:29 PM

Assam CM condoles loss of lives in Bengal train accident

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his condolences for the victims of Monday's collision between a goods train and the Kanchanjunga Express in West Bengal, and promised all possible assistance.

5:14 PM

Railway Minister Vaishnaw visits train accident site in West Bengal's Rangapani

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the train collision site at Rangapani, near New Jalpaiguri station in West Bengal, on Monday afternoon to assess the situation. Due to the narrow road, he rode pillion on a motorcycle to reach the accident site.

4:59 PM

What is Kavach?

Kavach, a train protection system  was developed domestically by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RSCO) to strengthen railway safety. Read here for more details. 

4:46 PM

Kanchanjunga Express train accident LIVE: Restoration and rescue work underway, say officials

Restoration and rescue work was underway after the Kanchanjunga Express train accident which left at least eight dead and several persons injured. “Restoration work started by around 12noon and it was going on simultaneously with the rescue work. It would be difficult to give any timeline by when we expect to complete the restoration work,” said Sabyasachi De, chief public relations officer of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said.

4:41 PM

Railway ministry doesn't care about railway officials, technical staff, alleges CM Mamata

"They (Railway ministry) don't care about passenger amenities. They don't even care about railway officials, railway engineers, railway technical staff and workers. They are also in trouble. Their old pension has been withdrawn. I am completely with the railway employees and railway officials. They are trying their best,” says CM Mamata Banerjee.  "But this government only cares about the election. How to go for hacking, how to go for manipulation, how to go for rig the election. I think they should give more time for the governance, not for utterance," she added.

 

4:19 PM

Kanchanjunga Express accident LIVE update: Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reaches site of incident soon

Rescue work is complete; focus is on restoration now, Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said today.

4:00 PM

West Bengal train accident update: Railway minister Vaishnaw reaches Bengal, to visit site of incident soon

Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has reached the Bagdogra airport in West Bengal and will soon leave for the Kanchenjunga Express train accident site in Darjeeling district, news agency ANI reported.

3:48 PM

'Mismanagement and negligence': Rahul Gandhi slams Centre's record on railway safety

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed the Narendra Modi government's track record on railway safety. “The news of the death of many people due to the accident of Kanchanjunga Express in West Bengal is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Rahul Gandhi posted on X in Hindi.

3:39 PM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma condoles loss of lives in Bengal train wreck

"The tragic train collision between the Kanchenjunga Express and a goods train is extremely unfortunate", Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on 'X'. Sarma also assured all possible help.

3:12 PM

I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured, says Home Minister Amit Shah

"The train accident that happened in New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal is very sad. I express my condolences to those who lost their family members in this unfortunate accident and wish for the speedy recovery of the injured," Home Minister Amit Shah stated on X in Hindi and Bangla.

3:07 PM

Kanchanjungha Express train accident: Railway Board says goods train driver disregarded signal

The West Bengal train accident near New Jalpaiguri happened because a goods train disregarded the signal and hit the Kanchanjungha Express, which was on way to Sealdah from Agartala, the Chairperson of the Railway Board has said. Chairperson Jaya Varma Sinha stated that five people died in the accident, however, some local reports attributed to railway officials suggested the toll could be as high as 15.

2:50 PM

Kharge blames 'Utter mismanagement' by railway ministry for Kanchanjunga train accident

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the Modi government and the railway ministry for "utter mismanagement" of the Railway services as the senior leader condoled the loss of lives in the West Bengal train accident.

Reacting to the tragedy, Kharge said "Extremely distressed by the Kanchanjunga Express train collision accident in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, where many people have lost their lives and several have been injured." 

2:18 PM

How did the West Bengal train accident take place?

According to preliminary information received from rail officials, the Kanchanjungha Express was stationary on the tracks when the goods train slammed into it from behind. While two rear compartments of the Kanchanjunga Express were immediately thrown off the tracks under the severe impact, another bogie was seen hanging mid-air with the engine of the goods train tucked underneath.

2:07 PM

Kanchanjungha Express train accident LIVE update: Death count could further increase, says officials

The death toll could increase further in the West Bengal train accident case could increase further. The state and Centre were  coordinating along with locals to rescue the trapped passengers.

1:59 PM

Central government enhances compensation for kin of deceased and injured passengers

Rs 10 lakh to be given in case of death and Rs 2.5 lakh towards grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries, railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said today. 

1:48 PM

Modi govt converted rail ministry into platform of 'camera-driven' self-promotion, says Kharge

"In the past 10 years, Modi govt has indulged in the utter mismanagement of the Railway Ministry. As a responsible Opposition, it is our bounden duty to underline how the Modi Govt has systematically converted the Rail Ministry into a platform of 'Camera-driven' self-promotion! Make no mistake, we will remain persistent with our questions and shall make the Modi Govt accountable for its criminal abandonment of the Indian Railways", Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said today.

1:35 PM

West bengal train accident update: President Murmu condoles loss of lives

In a post on X, President Droupadi Murmu extended her prayers to the mourning families and wished for the quick recovery of the injured

1:25 PM

Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express update: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to visit crash site

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will visit thetrain accident site in Siliguri to inspect relief operations, says official.

1:12 PM

Possibly this engine did not have 'Kavach,' govt will take corrective action, says ex-railways minister

"It is too early to talk about the cause of it but in the modern times it required an inquiry and deep corrections...I am guessing that possibly this engine did not have 'Kavach' (an automatic train protection (ATP) system). I have no doubt that the govt will take corrective action,"  former railways minister Dinesh Trivedi said today. 

12:59 PM

Three railway personnel among those killed

Three railway personnel among those killed in the tragic accident in West Bengal. At least 15 people were dead after a goods train crashed into with the Kanchanjhunga Express near Rangapani station in West Bengal.

12:54 PM

Loco pilot who disregarded signal lost his life: CEO, railway board on West Bengal accident

"Rescue operation has been completed. The driver (Loco pilot) who disregarded the signal has died & also the guard of Kanchenjunga Express has lost his life. Help desks established at all railway stations along Agartala- Sealdah route," Jaya Varma Sinha, chairman and CEO of the Railway Board said today.

12:41 PM

PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for next of kin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the relative of each deceased in the railway mishap in West Bengal. The injured would be compensated with Rs 50,000.

 

12:35 PM

Train accident update: Help desk numbers issued by Indian Railways

The help desk numbers issued by Railways are:

 

Sealdah

033-23508794

033-23833326

 

GHY Station 

03612731621

03612731622

03612731623

 

KIR STATION

6287801805

 

Katihar

09002041952

9771441956

 

LMG 

03674263958

03674263831

03674263120

03674263126

03674263858

12:30 PM

Kanchanjungha Express update: Railways officials in Delhi monitoring situation at accident site

At least fifteen passengers died and 60 others were injured after a goods train crashed into Kanchenjunga Express train in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal today.

12:22 PM

Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express update: PM Modi condoles loss of lives

"The railway accident in West Bengal is saddening. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to officials and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to assist the affected. The Railways Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw Ji is on the way to the site of the mishap as well," PM Modi wrote on Twitter.

11:43 AM

West Bengal train accident news: Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw leaving for Darjeeling

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on X: “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.”