Reports indicate that a fatal accident occurred in India’s West Bengal state on Monday, as an express passenger train collided with a goods train. The collision resulted in the derailment of three passenger carriages and tragically claimed the lives of at least seven individuals, according to local authorities.
The aftermath of the accident was captured by Indian media, showcasing the chaotic scene of overturned carriages and one carriage perilously balancing on another.
Rescue teams are currently engaged in the challenging task of searching through the twisted wreckage for any potential additional casualties trapped underneath.
A local police officer named Iftikar-Ul-Hassan informed AFP that the confirmed death toll stands at seven, while 39 injured passengers have been rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
This incident adds to a series of unfortunate events that have plagued India’s aging railway infrastructure, which caters to a massive volume of passengers on a daily basis.
Rajesh Kumar Singh of the Railway Protection Force shared, “We located the lifeless bodies of the train driver and a security guard, who were extricated from the wreckage.” He added, “There is a possibility of more bodies being trapped under the debris, but we are unable to confirm at this time.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sympathies for the bereaved families and victims in a social media post, indicating that relief efforts are actively underway.
‘Tragic Event’
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal described the collision as a “tragic event” in a social media statement.
Banerjee noted, “Medical teams, ambulances, and disaster response units have been swiftly deployed to the site to assist with rescue operations, recovery, and providing medical aid.” She emphasized, “Efforts are being expedited on a war footing.”
According to Banerjee, the accident occurred in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district when the Kanchenjunga Express train was struck by the goods train.
The Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, confirmed that the injured individuals are being promptly transported to medical facilities for treatment.
India boasts one of the most extensive rail networks globally, but it has been marred by various tragedies over the years, including the catastrophic 1981 derailment in Bihar state, which claimed an estimated 800 lives.
Last June, nearly 300 individuals lost their lives in a three-train collision in Odisha state.
In recent times, significant investments have been made in India to modernize the rail network by constructing new stations and implementing advanced electronic signaling systems.
In a remarkable feat, the world’s highest railway bridge, standing at 359 meters (1178 feet) above a river, was successfully crossed by a train in India’s Himalayan region on Sunday, as announced by Minister Vaishnaw.
This arch-shaped steel structure, spanning the Chenab River, connects regions of northern Jammu and Kashmir state, linking the disputed territory to the rest of India.
The railway project, under construction for almost thirty years, recently underwent a trial run ahead of its scheduled formal opening in the coming weeks.
AFP