NFR diverted 19 trains following collision of goods train with Kanchanjunga Express

Digital Desk: Railway authorities rerouted 19 trains via the New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri Junction, Bagdogra, and Aluabari Road route following the collision between the 13174 Down Agartala-Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express and a Goods train carrying containers near Raninagar and Chaterhat station under the Katihar division of N.F. Railway. The Kanchanjungha Express, which left Agartala on June 16, was hit from behind in the incident.

The list of diverted trains includes:

1.        19602 New Jalpaiguri Udaipur City Weekly Express (17.06.24)

2.        20503 Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (16.06.24)

3.        12423 Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (16.06.24)

4.        11666 Agartala-Rani Kamlapati Special train (16.06.24)

5.        12377 Sealdah-New Alipurduar Padatik Express (16.06.24)

6.        06105 Nagercoil-Dibrugarh Special (14.06.24)

7.        20506 New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express (16.06.24)

8.        12424 New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express (16.06.24)

9.        22301 Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express (17.06.24)

10.     12345 Guwahati-Howrah Saraighat Express (17.06.28)

11.     12505 Kamakhya-Anand Vihar Northeast Express (17.06.24)

12.     12510 Guwahati-Bengaluru Express (17.06.24)

13.     22302 New Jalpaiguri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express (17.06.24)

14.     15620 Kamakhya Gaya Express (17.06.24)

15.     15562 Dibrugarh-Howrah Kamrup Express (17.06.24)

16.     15536 Guwahati-Okha Express (17.06.24)

17.     15930 New Tinsukia-Tambaram Express (17.06.24)

18.     13148 Bamanhat-Sealdah Uttar Bangs Express (17.06.24)

19.     22504 Dibrugarh-Kanyakumari Express (17.06.24)

The collision occurred about 10 km from the New Jalpaiguri station at around 8:55 a.m. 

After hearing of the tragic news, an Accident Relief Medical team quickly moved to the scene with the necessary staff and supplies. Prompt officials from Katihar and New Jalpaiguri also showed up to supervise rescue and relief operations. To get a personal assessment of the situation, senior authorities including Shri Chetan Kr. Shrivastava, the General Manager of N.F. Railway, left Maligaon by train. Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, the minister of railways, has also left Delhi to personally supervise work at the accident scene. 

The incident caused five wagons of the container train and four coaches from the back of the Kanchanjungha Express to derail, preventing traffic on both the Up and Down lines. Unfortunately, eight people lost their lives in the tragedy, and about twenty-five more were injured. All injured individuals are receiving immediate medical attention, and efforts are being made to stabilize their condition. 

The unaffected section of the Kanchanjungha Express has been cleared to resume its journey despite the disruption. To lessen any disruption, food packages and water bottles were swiftly given to passengers on the impacted train. 

Helpline numbers have been disseminated to passengers and concerned parties at all major stations along the impacted route. Authorities are working nonstop to get train operations in the area back to normal while they continue their investigation into what caused the collision.