At least eight people lost their lives and 60 were injured when a goods train collided with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express near Rangapani station in West Bengal on Monday, according to police reports. Railway officials stated that the impact from the goods train’s locomotive caused three rear compartments of the express train to derail.

Rescue operations are currently ongoing at the site, approximately 30 km from North Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri station, with the injured being transported to nearby hospitals. According to a senior police officer, the death toll has risen to at least 15, with 60 people injured.

Enhanced ex-gratia compensation will be provided to the victims;
₹10 Lakh in case of death,
₹2.5 Lakh towards grievous and ₹50,000 for minor injuries.

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) June 17, 2024

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Previously, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Now, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced an increased ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those with grievous injuries, and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries.

Also Read: Goods Train That Hit Kanchanjunga Express Had Overshot Signal: Officials

Siliguri Train Accident: What Happened?

The 13174 Kanchanjunga Express, traveling from Agartala to Sealdah, was struck from behind by a goods train in Siliguri’s Rangapani region around 9 am, according to a railway official. The collision occurred seven kilometers from North Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri station, shortly after the express train had departed from the station.

The driver and assistant driver of the goods train, along with the guard of the Kanchanjunga Express, were among those who died in the incident, according to Varma Sinha, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board. The initial investigation suggests that the goods train overshot a signal and collided with the stationary Kanchanjunga Express, indicating human error as the likely cause. The first indications point to a case of signal disregard. There is a need for the Kavach system to be implemented and planned for West Bengal to prevent such accidents.

Also Read: Siliguri: Death Toll Reaches 8, 30 Injured As Kanchanjunga Express Collides With Goods Train