7 Dead as Bikaner-Guwahati Express Derails
At least seven persons were killed and over 40 others injured, including 13 critically, after 12 coaches of the Bikaner-Guwahati Express derailed.
Yesterday 13 January at 4.53 pm about 42 km from the New Jalpaiguri station in West Bengal, AT LEAST seven persons were killed and over 40 others injured, including 13 critically, after 12 coaches of the Bikaner-Guwahati Express derailed. The injured have been admitted to hospitals in Jalpaiguri and Maynaguri. The number of deaths may increase. A high-level probe has been ordered to find the cause of the accident. There were 1,053 passengers on board the train. According to officials at the spot, some coaches toppled from the track and one coach was found on top of another. Several of the dead and injured were found lying on both sides of the track, while others were found stuck inside a mangled coach.
After the accident happened, two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and several Railways and district administration officials rushed to the spot to remove people from the train. The rescue operations continued throughout the night. Essential equipment, including cranes and gas cutters (google image), have been deployed at the site while medical equipment and a train to transport stranded passengers have been sent. Initially, the rescue operation was hampered as night fell but floodlights and cranes were soon sent to the spot. Earlier many trains had derailed but no one had died. This is the first major rail accident involving passenger deaths since the derailment of the Seemanchal Express in February 2019 in Bihar where six people lost their lives.
Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, ‘It is an unfortunate incident. I will be visiting the spot on 14th Jan. I have already spoken to the Prime Minister and given him details about the rescue operation. The rescue operation is our main focus now,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he spoke to Vaishnaw “and took stock of the situation”. “My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly,” Modi posted. The Railways has announced an ex-gratia payment of “Rs 5 lakh towards dead, Rs 1 lakh to grievously injured and Rs 25,000 for passengers with simple injury”.
