NEW DELHI, Jan 13: At least five persons have been killed and about 50 passengers injured, at least 15 of them critically when 12 coaches of the Guwahati-bound Express train from Bikaner derailed in the Moynaguri region of north Bengal on Thursday evening. Official sources have expressed the apprehension that the casualty figure could increase when the rescue teams could get through to the derailed coaches.
Many passengers are feared trapped inside the derailed coaches and gas cutters are being used to cut open the mangled coaches, according to Railway sources.
Jalpaiguri district magistrate Moumita Godara Basu said five bodies have been found till 7pm and over 20 passengers with injuries rushed to the local Moynaguri government hospital. About 15 passengers are reported to be in a critical condition. A special train from Jalpaiguri reached the accident site at around 7 pm to take the injured to hospital.
The location where the accident took place is part of the Alipuarduar section of the North East Frontier Railway.
A railways spokesperson said the accident took place at 5pm, nearly seven minutes after the express train passed the New Domohani station. “12 coaches jumped off the tracks of which two capsized,” Guneet Kaur, chief public relation officer of NEFR said.
Railway officials, who rushed to the spot from different locations, said it was getting dark by the time the initial team of rescue workers reached the site. The Jalpaiguri district magistrate said they were getting generators to light up the area. “All departments have been alerted. Rescue staff are being rushed from all locations,” Basu said.
In New Delhi, the railways ordered a high-level inquiry into the accident by the railway safety commissioner. Photographs and videos that appeared on local media channels showed two coaches lying on the ground and three more off the tracks. One of the coaches appeared to be badly damaged.
“There were not too many passengers in the train because of the Covid pandemic (restrictions),” Dilip Kumar Singh, divisional railway manager of the Alipuarduar section of the NEFT told reporters.
“Several teams are rushing to the spot. I am on my way. This is a case of derailment. Our men are making efforts to rescue the injured. We have no exact figure on casualties,” said Singh.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted that senior officers of the state government were supervising the rescue and relief operations. “Deeply concerned to hear about the tragic accident of the Bikaner-Guwahati Express in Moynaguri,” she said on Twitter, adding that the injured will receive medical attention, as early as possible.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will reach the accident site on Friday morning. He said he was “personally monitoring” the situation and that he has spoken to prime minister Narendra Modi and apprised him of the rescue operations. “We will fulfill all of our duties,” he has said. “In an unfortunate accident, 12 Coaches of Bikaner – Guwahati Exp. derailed near New Moynaguri (West Bengal) this evening. Personally monitoring the situation for swift rescue operations,” he said in a tweet.
“I am reaching the site tomorrow morning. Medical teams, senior officers at the spot. PM Modi also took stock of the situation and rescue operation. Our focus is on rescue. Ex-gratia also announced,” the minister said.
A High-level Commissioner Railway Safety inquiry has been ordered in the accident. Chairperson of the Railway Board and DG (Safety), Railway Board are leaving from Delhi to the site of the accident. Compensation has been announced as ₹ 5 lakh for death, ₹ 1 lakh for grievous injury, and ₹ 25,000 for “simple injuries”.
Modi, who was in the middle of a meeting with chief ministers to review the COVID-19 situation, inquired with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee about the accident. Banerjee, who had spoken to the Jalpaiguri district magistrate, briefed the prime minister about the relief and rescue operations. Visuals from the accident site show people being rescued from the debris of multiple damaged train coaches lying sideways next to the elevated train tracks. Police can be seen on-site, with locals and other passengers helping in relief and rescue operations.
(Manas Dasgupta)