Guwahati-Bikaner Express derails In the latest update, at least seven people were killed and over 45 were injured when 12 coaches of the Bikaner-Guwahati Express train derailed and some overturned near Domohani in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district on Thursday. The injured are being treated at hospitals in Maynaguri and Jalpaiguri.
Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Moumita Godara Basu told news agency PTI, “Seven passengers have died so far. We have recovered four bodies from the accident site, while three people died in the hospital.”
The DM of Jalpaiguri said, “Since the condition of some of them is critical, the death toll may rise.” Jalpaiguri DM told PTI-language, “The rescue workers conducted a thorough search of each coach for survivors and bodies throughout the night.
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said in a statement in Guwahati that the rescue operation has been completed.
A railway official said in New Delhi that the commissioner, railway safety, will investigate the cause of the accident.
The accident happened around 5 pm in an area under the Alipurduar division of NFR. There were 1,053 passengers on the train at the time of the derailment.
Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) GP Singh said a train carrying the stranded passengers to Guwahati left the accident site at 9.30 pm and is expected to reach the Assam capital around 2 am on Friday.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the tragedy when he was in the middle of an online meeting with other chief ministers to review the COVID situation in the country.
PM Modi later tweeted, “Spoke to the Railway Minister and took stock of the situation in the wake of the train accident in West Bengal.”
President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also expressed grief over the accident and wished speedy recovery to the injured.
Kovind tweeted, “Sad derailment of Bikaner-Guhavati Express near New Maynaguri, West Bengal. My condolences and prayers are with the affected passengers and their families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery.” “
Vice President Naidu said that he was deeply pained by the loss of life and property. “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the Vice President’s Secretariat tweeted, quoting Naidu.
The Railways has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of those killed in the accident, Rs 1 lakh to the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 to the simply injured passengers.
Indian Railways has issued a helpline number 8134054999 to answer the queries of passengers.
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