Kanchanjungha Express Collides with Goods Train in Darjeeling: 5 Dead, Several Injured
A tragic train collision occurred near New Jalpaiguri when the Kanchanjungha Express collided with a goods train, resulting in five deaths and over 20 serious injuries.
The train accident took place around 9 am near Rangapani, close to the New Jalpaiguri station, as confirmed by a senior North Frontier Railway (NFR) official. The 13174 Kanchanjungha Express, traveling from Agartala to Sealdah, was hit from behind by the goods train, leading to the derailment of at least two rear compartments. Abhishek Roy, Additional SP of Darjeeling Police, confirmed the fatalities and the number of injured, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. The divisional railway manager (DRM) of NFR’s Katihar division stated that the impact caused significant damage and derailment near Rangapani station, approximately seven kilometers from New Jalpaiguri. In response to the incident, rescue operations have been launched. Partha Pratim Roy, chairman of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC), announced that 10 buses had been dispatched to rescue stranded passengers, and additional bus services from Siliguri to Kolkata would be operational from the afternoon.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her shock and concern over the train incident. In a post on X , she mentioned that details were still emerging and that various rescue teams, including DM, SP, doctors, ambulances, and disaster teams, had been rushed to the site. Union Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also commented, describing the train accident as unfortunate and assuring that rescue operations were proceeding at a rapid pace, with close coordination between the Railways, NDRF, and SDRF. Authorities have set up help desks to assist concerned individuals, and senior officials are present at the site to oversee rescue and medical assistance efforts. The injured are being transported to hospitals for treatment, with disaster response teams providing critical support to affected passengers.
