15 Dead in New Jalpaiguri Kanchanjunga Express Crash

New Jalpaiguri । Correspondent: At least fifteen people have lost their lives and approximately 60 others were injured when a freight train collided with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express near Rangapani station in West Bengal on June 17.

The incident occurred early Monday morning when a stationary passenger train, the Kanchenjungha Express, was struck by a goods train in the New Jalpaiguri area.

Dramatic footage from the scene depicted one coach of the express train suspended in mid-air. The cause of the collision remains unclear, and authorities have assured a thorough investigation.

Emergency services including ambulances and disaster response teams have been deployed to the site for rescue operations.

“We are working to complete the rescue operation as quickly as possible,” stated railway official Sabyasachi De during a briefing with reporters.

“Preliminary information suggests that the Kanchenjungha Express was rear-ended by a goods train,” he added, emphasizing that a definitive cause will be determined after the investigation concludes.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is slated to visit the accident site at New Jalpaiguri to oversee relief efforts, as confirmed by an official.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has announced that an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will be provided to the families of the deceased in the railway accident that occurred earlier today in West Bengal. Additionally, Rs 50,000 will be given to each of the injured, as stated by the PMO.