Rescue operation launched at the accident site of Kanchenjunga Express train, in Darjeeling on June 17, 2024.
Offcials said that several trains were canceled while some were diverted yesterday after the Kanchenjunga express disaster that led to eight people dead and twenty-five others injured.
An official release from Northeast Frontier Railways read: “Today five trains will not be available for use among them is Katihar-Siliguri Intercity Express (15719), Siliguri-Katihar Intercity Express (15720), New Jalpaiguri-Howrah Shatabdi Express (12042), Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Shatabdi Express (12041) and Siliguri-Jogbani Intercity Express (15724).”
Train number 12523 has been rescheduled at New Jalpaiguri to leave at 12.00 hours as per the release by Chief Public Relations officer of Northeast Frontier Railways, Sabyasachi De.
Railway authorities said the following trains had been rerouted; train number 20504 [New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express], 13176 [Silchar-Sealedah Kanchenjunga Express] and lastly 12523 [New Jalpaiguri-New Delhi Superfast Express].
Subhendu Kumar Choudhary, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Katihar Northeast Frontier Railway told PTI, “Restoration work has been going on since night. The trail of an engine was carried out upline along with two goods trains and one Shatabdi train towards NJP (New Jalpaiguri Junction) yesterday. Since it is an accident site, the trial was done with some caution. Within half an hour, the line beside it will also be restored.”
Arrival of Kanchanjungha Express into Sealdah
Kanchenjunga Express, meanwhile, reached its destination station in Sealdah in Kolkata early this morning after repair work was completed.
The 13174 Kanchenjunga Express from Tripura capital Agartala scheduled to reach Sealdah at 7.20 pm on Monday arrived at its destination eight hours behind schedule at 3.16 am, the ER official added.
According to him, medical facilities were provided in different stations including Malda town and also in Sealdah which catered for their nutritional needs as well as water.
A state government official said that buses and small vehicles were given to the passengers by the State’s transport department at Sealdah station to ensure a smooth ride back home for them.
The accident took place in Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district where at least eight people died and over 25 people got injured.
“I was on S7 when this incident happened. We are very much afraid here after our accident. My parents too are worrying,” a passenger present during the train crash narrated her fears about such or more accidents will happen.
Kolkata Mayor criticises Centre
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim interacted with the passengers who came by the train. The Mayor criticised the central government for “not doing anything” over the accident
“This is bad that Central Government is not doing anything. They (the BJP-led Central government) are playing with lives of people, they wait for any incident to take place. Why they don’t pay attention to this issue? Why do they wait until these people die? This is all because Railway wants to privatize it,” he said additionally.”
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also earlier hit out at the central government over its alleged negligence towards Railways. Kanchenjunga Express runs between Silchar in Assam to Sealdah in Kolkata .
