Bengal: Several Trains Rerouted After Goods Train Collides With Kanchanjunga Express

After a goods train collided with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express near Rangapani station in West Bengal, several trains were rerouted on Monday. The accident, for which rescue operations are underway, left at least eight dead and several others injured.

Due to a rear-end collision between Rangapani and Changrabandha stations in the Katihar division of the North Frontier Railway (NFR) zone, the following train diversions are in effect:

• Train 19602 New Jalpaiguri (NJP) to Udaipur City (UDZ) Express diverted via NJP-Siliguri Junction (SGUJ)-Borail (BORA)-Alipurduar Junction (AUB)
• Train 20503 Dibrugarh (DBRG) to New Delhi (NDLS) Rajdhani Express diverted via NJP-Siliguri Junction (SGUJ)-Borail (BORA)-Alipurduar Junction (AUB)
• Train 12423 Dibrugarh (DBRG) to New Delhi (NDLS) Rajdhani Express diverted via NJP-Siliguri Junction (SGUJ)-Borail (BORA)-Alipurduar Junction (AUB)
• Train 01666 Agartala (AGTL) to Rangiya (RKMV) Special diverted via NJP-Siliguri Junction (SGUJ)-Borail (BORA)-Alipurduar Junction (AUB)
• Train 12377 Sealdah (SDAH) to New Alipurduar (NOQ) Padatik Express diverted via Alipurduar Junction (AUB)-Borail (BORA)-Siliguri Junction (SGUJ)-New Jalpaiguri (NJP)
• Train 06105 Nagercoil (NCJ) to Dibrugarh (DBRG) Special diverted via Alipurduar Junction (AUB)-Borail (BORA)-Siliguri Junction (SGUJ)-New Jalpaiguri (NJP)
• Train 20506 New Delhi (NDLS) to Dibrugarh (DBRG) Rajdhani Express diverted via Alipurduar Junction (AUB)-Borail (BORA)-Siliguri Junction (SGUJ)-New Jalpaiguri (NJP)
• Train 12424 New Delhi (NDLS) to Dibrugarh (DBRG) Rajdhani Express diverted via Alipurduar Junction (AUB)-Borail (BORA)-Siliguri Junction (SGUJ)-New Jalpaiguri (NJP)
• Train 22301 Howrah (HWH) to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Vande Bharat Express via Alipurduar Junction (AUB)-Borail (BORA)-Siliguri Junction (SGUJ)-New Jalpaiguri (NJP)

READ MORE:  West Bengal: Goods Train That Hit Sealdah-Bound Kanchanjunga Express Overshot Signal

Earlier today, railway officials said three rear compartments of the express train derailed under the impact of the collision from behind by the locomotive of the goods train. Rescue operations are underway at the spot, about 30 km from North Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri station, and the injured persons were being shifted to nearby hospitals. “Five persons have died in the accident till now and around 30 people suffered injuries, which are not fatal,” a senior police officer said.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a post 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.” The divisional railway manager (DRM) of North Frontier Railway’s Katihar division said the 13174 Kanchanjunga Express was bound for Sealdah from Agartala and the accident occurred around 9 am.

One of the compartments of the express train got detached following the collision and settled above the locomotive of the goods train, he said. “Prima facie suggests human error as the cause. The first indications suggest that this is a case of signal disregard. Kavach needs to be proliferated and planned for West Bengal,” said Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman and CEO Railway Board.