Kanchanjunga Express Accident: Freight Train Driver Among Many Feared Dead. 5 Bodies Recovered

The Kanchanjungha Express collided with a freight train near Jalpaiguri. Eyewitnesses report significant fatalities in the last two crushed coaches. Rescue operations are going on.

The Kanchanjungha Express was bound for Sealdah when it was hit by a freight train on Monday morning. ( Image Source :ABP Ananda )

Jalpaiguri: The Kanchanjungha Express bound for Sealdah was struck by a freight train, leading to fears of a high death toll. Bodies are being recovered from the mangled remains of the train. The driver of the goods train is said to have died. Eyewitnesses fear that most people in the last two coaches are not alive. Both coaches are completely crushed and twisted, presenting a horrific scene.

As many as five bodies had been recovered, at the time of writing.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described the incident as "unfortunate".

He said rescue operations are being conducted with urgency. The railway authorities, along with NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force), are working in close coordination. The injured are being taken to hospitals, and senior officials have arrived at the scene.

Here is the tweet from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw:

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.

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) June 17, 2024

The 13174 Kanchanjunga Express was coming from Agartala and going towards Sealdah when the accident occurred around 9 am. The accident spot is near Rangapani station, nearly 7 km from the New Jalpaiguri station in North Bengal.

In an X post, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock over the accident and rescue work had been started on war-footing. 

“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," she posted, adding: "DM, SP, doctors, ambulances and disaster teams have been rushed to the site for rescue, recovery, medical assistance. Action on war-footing initiated.”

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,…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 17, 2024

More details are awaited.