Death Toll Rises to 8 in Kanchanjungha Express Mishap; Goods Train Driver Among the Dead

Siliguri, India– A tragic train accident in Siliguri, Bengal, on Monday, June 17, resulted in the deaths of eight people and injuries to several others. The Kanchanjungha Express derailed after being struck by a goods train, with the driver, his assistant, and the guard of the express train among the deceased.

Train Routes: The Kanchanjungha Express was en route from Agartala in Tripura to Sealdah station in Kolkata when the collision occurred. Preliminary investigations by the Railway Board suggest that human error was the primary cause of the accident. Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, indicated that the goods train driver overshot the signal, leading to the crash.

Casualties: Among the victims, three were from Assam's Kokrajhar: Bipin Chandra Ray (47), Dipak K Rabha (36), and Amrish Singh (35). The death toll rose to eight from an initial count of five.

Rescue Operations: Rescue operations have been completed, and the injured have been transported to a nearby hospital, confirmed by Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer Sabyasachi De.

Official Statements and Support:

Chief Minister’s Response: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X (formerly Twitter), expressing his condolences: "The tragic train collision between the Kanchenjunga Express and a goods train is extremely unfortunate. My heart goes out to the families of those who have lost their lives and prayers for the swift recovery of the injured. We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide all necessary assistance as and when required."

Continued Support: In a subsequent post, CM Sarma stated, "I have spoken to Hon'ble Union Railway Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw Ji on the recent tragedy and we remain concerned about passengers from Assam. My officials are in constant touch with Railway authorities."

Human Error: Jaya Varma Sinha reiterated that both the driver of the goods train and the Kanchanjungha Express guard lost their lives in the collision. She emphasized the accident appears to be a result of signal disregard, stating, "The driver who disregarded the signal has died, and also the guard of the Kanchanjungha Express has lost his life."

Support Measures: Help desks have been established at all railway stations along the Agartala-Sealdah route to assist affected passengers and their families.

Safety Concerns:

Adherence to Protocols: The incident underscores the critical importance of adherence to railway signals and protocols to prevent such devastating accidents. The Railway Board is expected to further investigate the incident and implement measures to enhance safety and prevent future mishaps.

This tragic event highlights the necessity of stringent safety protocols and vigilant adherence to railway signals to ensure the safety of passengers and railway staff.