National Desk, 17th June: Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced an enhancement in the ex-gratia compensation for the victims of the tragic train accident that occurred near New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. The collision between a goods train and the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries.
In a recent tweet, Minister Vaishnaw stated that the compensation has been increased to Rs 10 lakh for each deceased individual, Rs 2.5 lakh for those with grievous injuries, and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries.
This announcement comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for each injured person.
Police reports indicate that at least eight individuals lost their lives, and around 30 others sustained injuries in the incident. The mishap, which involved a collision between a goods train and the Kanchanjungha Express, has led to significant disruptions in railway services.
Rescue operations were promptly initiated at the accident site, located approximately seven kilometers from North Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri station. The injured passengers were quickly transported to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment.
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