Kanchanjungha Express Train Accident Video: First Visuals From West Bengal

The serene morning in West Bengal was shattered by a tragic train accident involving the 13174 Kolkata-bound Kanchanjungha Express. The collision, which occurred near New Jalpaiguri railway station, resulted in the deaths of five people and left around 20-25 others injured.

Visuals from Accident site

The accident site at Rangapani station presented a grim picture. The Kanchanjungha Express, a train running between Silchar in Assam and Sealdah in Kolkata, lay derailed and mangled after being struck from behind by a goods train. The impact was severe, with several train carriages crumpled and overturned.

Rescue teams were swiftly deployed to the scene. The wreckage was strewn across the tracks, with railway officials and police officers working tirelessly to free trapped passengers. Emergency services, including ambulances and medical personnel, rushed to provide immediate assistance to the injured. The sound of sirens and the frantic calls for help filled the air as rescuers fought to save lives."

Prima facie, it appears that the goods train overshot the signal and hit the rear portion of Kanchanjungha train," he said, adding that "the railway board officials are monitoring the situation throughout the war room." The Kanchanjungha train's rear train consisted of two parcel vans and a guard coach.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos and panic. "It was horrifying. The sound of the collision was deafening, and then there was smoke and dust everywhere," said a local resident who arrived at the scene shortly after the accident. "People were screaming, and many were trapped inside the carriages. The rescue teams did an incredible job getting to them quickly."

Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), confirmed that the Kanchanjungha Express was hit by the goods train near Rangapani. Abhishek Roy, Additional SP of Darjeeling Police, provided an update: "Five passengers have died, and 20-25 are injured. The situation is serious. The incident occurred when a goods train rammed into the Kanchanjungha Express."

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep shock over the tragic incident in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. "The Kanchanjungha Express was hit by a freight train," she said. "Teams, including the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, doctors, ambulances, and disaster response units, have been dispatched for rescue and medical assistance. Efforts are underway on a war footing to address the situation."

Helpline Numbers

Indian Railways has released a list of helpline numbers for families seeking information about the injured:

Help Desk at Sealdah:
033-23508794
033-23833326

Helpline at GHY Station:
0361-2731621