In a breaking news, today in Darjeeling West Bengal Kanchenjunga Express destined to Sealdah passenger train derailed after a deadly collision with a goods train.
According to the latest updates, the derailed two bogies have been lifted up and thrown off the tracks.
While the accident has reported 8 deaths and 20-25 injuries as per the statement by Abhishek Roy, Additional SP of Darjeeling Police.
Prime minister Narendra Modi has announced compensation of Rs 2 Lakh to the kith & kins of the deceased and Rs 15,000 to the injured from the PMNRF.
The Kanchenjunga Express is a daily train that connects Bengal with the Northeastern cities of Silchar and Agartala. This route is in the Chicken's Neck corridor, which connects the Northeast with the rest of the country. The accident on this line can potentially impact the movement of several other trains.
Live Updates________________________________
Update 13:32pm: Centre has increased the Compensation pay. Now the kins of dead will receive 2.5 Lakhs, while the injured one will receive 15,000, says Ashwini Vaishnav.
Update 13:31 pm: Death Toll Rises. 15 people are reportedly dead while 60 are injured.
Update 12:55 pm: According to the CRB, As of now total 8 ppl have died, 5 ppl and 3 railway staff have died in accident. Loco pilot and assistant poco pilot of goods train also died in accident.
Update 12:50 pm: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took to 'X' to express his distress over the accident.
Update 12:40 pm: CM Mamata Banerjee going to the spot. Mamata Banerjee will be leaving by special flight. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista at the accident site to oversee the rescue and relief efforts.
Update 12:33 pm: Congress deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari demands resignation of Railway Minister
Update 12:28 pm: Darjeeling MP Raju Bista reaches to the accident site.
Update 12: 23 pm: 'We have information about 8 deaths in this accident,' says Northeast Frontier Railway CPRO Sabyasachi De.
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Update 12: 20 pm: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shares an update on the tragic incident.
Update 12: 10 pm: PM Modi condoles on the tragic accident
The railway accident in West Bengal is saddening. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to officials and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to assist the affected.
Update 11:30 AM:
The Kerala Congress has blasted Railway Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Calling out a high number of accidents in the minister's previous tenure, the Kerala Congress threw jibe at Vaishnaw for neither taking responsibility of the accidents nor resigning. Meanwhile, in the post, the Kerala Congress unit also have example of NDA alliance partner Nitish Kumar, when he resigned of his post in 1999 train mishap.
Update 10:57 AM:
Sealdah Eastern Railway sets up a control desk at Rangapani station after the Kanchenjunga Express train rammed by a goods train at Ruidhasa in Darjeeling district
Update 10:50 AM:
Railway minister, Ashwini Vaishnavi expresses condolences on 'X'
Update 09:48 AM:
CM Mamta Banerjee reacts on 'X'..
Update 09:30 AM:
Rescue team is on action mode.
This is a breaking news, details are still awaited.