National Desk, 17th June: At least five passengers were killed and around 30 others injured when the Kanchanjungha Express, traveling from Agartala to Sealdah in West Bengal, collided with a goods train near New Jalpaiguri on the morning of June 17.
The tragic incident occurred around 9 am in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. According to railway officials, the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express (Train No. 13174) was struck by a goods-laden train, causing three coaches of the passenger train to derail and sustain significant damage.
The Kanchanjungha Express had departed from Guwahati at 11 pm on June 15 and was en route to Sealdah when the accident occurred.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her shock over the incident on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). She stated that she had just been informed about the train accident in the Phansidewa area and mentioned that the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, doctors, ambulances, and disaster teams had been dispatched to the site for rescue, recovery, and medical assistance, initiating action on a war footing.
Rescue operations are currently underway, with more details awaited.