Kanchanjunga Express Accident: Vande Bharat Stranded In Malda, Railway Services Hit In North Bengal

The Kanchanjunga Express accident has caused disrupted to railway services in North Bengal. An emergency train is being sent from Sealdah to the accident site will bring back the stranded passengers.

A file photo of the Vande Bharat Express train that runs between Howrah and New Jalpaiguri stations. ( Image Source :PTI )

Kanchanjunga Express Accident: The collision between a goods train and the Kanchanjunga Express on Monday morning left at least 15 persons dead and over 60 injured, according to reports. The accident occured near Rangapani railway station, about 7 km from New Jalpaiguri in North Bengal. The driver of the freight train, which hit the passenger train from behind derailing the last four compartments of the latter, died in the accident.   

The collision has, meanwhile, caused a severe disruption in the railway services in North Bengal. The Vande Bharat Express, travelling on the Howrah-New Jalpaiguri route, was stated to be stranded at the Malda Town station according to latest reports.

The Indian Railway authorities have activated several emergency phone numbers, including a specific helpline in Malda, for assistance to those affected.

Special Train To Bring Stranded Passengers From Accident Site

Meanwhile, the Eastern Railway said an emergency passenger train will be sent from Sealdah to the accident site to bring back passengers stranded after the collision. Quoting Eastern Railway CPRO Kaushik Mitra, news agency UNI reported that the Kanchenjunga Express would leave Monday night as per its scheduled departure time.   

Besides the special train from Sealdah, the North Bengal State Transport (NBST) will run ten buses to ferry the stranded passengers.

Meanwhile, fourteen trains were diverted via New Jalpaiguri, Silliguri Junction, Bagdogra, and Aluabari Road stations as the accident hit services on the Howrah-New Jalpaiguri route, the Northeast Frontier Railway said in a statement. The 14 trains include the Vande Bharat Express, besides several long-distance trains.  

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— Northeast Frontier Railway (@RailNf) June 17, 2024

According to NF Railway, four rear coaches of the Kanchanjungha Express, and five wagons of the freight train got derailed, which blocked the train movements of both Up and Down lines on the route, necessitating the diversion of 14 trains.