Action On War-Footing Initiated: Mamata Banerjee On Bengal Train Accident

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed her shock over the train accident in New Jalpaiguri on Monday morning in which at least five people have died while many people have been injured.

In her first reaction to the incident on X, she said, "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, recovery, medical assistance. Action on war-footing initiated,"

The Kanchanjunga Express, en route from Agartala in Tripura to Sealdah station in Kolkata, was hit by a goods train at around 8 am.

Sources said that at least two carriages of the passenger train derailed following the collision. The train, operating between Sealdah in West Bengal and Silchar in Assam, was crowded due to the ongoing peak tourist season, with thousands flocking to hill stations in northern Bengal and neighboring Sikkim.

As per the authorities, five people have lost their lives in the accident.

"Five passengers have died, 20-25 injured in the accident. The situation is serious. The incident occurred when a goods train rammed into Kanchenjunga Express," ANI quoted Abhishek Roy, Additional SP of Darjeeling Police, as saying.

Responding to the incident, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called it an "unfortunate accident" and the rescue operations going on at war footing. "Railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination. The injured are being shifted to the hospital. Senior officials have reached the site," he added.

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