death toll in the Bikaner-Guwahati Express train derailment in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district rose to eight on Friday, while 42 others injured in the mishap were hospitalised.
The death toll in the Bikaner-Guwahati Express train derailment in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district rose to eight on Friday, while 42 others were hospitalised after being injured in the mishap.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said he is personally monitoring the situation and has apprised PM Narendra Modi about the rescue operations.
An ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh has been announced for the kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for those who receive grievous injuries and Rs 25,000 for those who suffer simple injuries.
Of the injured, 28 were admitted to Jalpaiguri district hospital and 7 were sent to Moynaguri government hospital. Seven critical passengers were shifted to the North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri, Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Moumita Godara Basu told India Today.
She mentioned that authorities recovered four bodies from the accident site while three people died in hospital. “Since some of them are in a critical condition, the death toll may go up,” she said, adding that search and rescue operations continued through the night amidst darkness and thick fog.
An inquiry headed by Commissioner, Railway Safety has been ordered into the cause of the accident.
The train that started from Bikaner in Rajasthan was heading to Guwahati in Assam via Bihar’s Patna when the accident took place near Maynaguri in Jalpaiguri around 5.15 pm on Thursday
There were 1,053 passengers, including 177 who set off from Bikaner and 98 passengers who got on at Patna junction, on board the train at the time of the derailment.
Distressing visuals from the accident spot showed the train’s derailed coaches lying on top of one another and passengers being pulled out of the wreckage.
Eastern Railways has issued emergency numbers for Rajasthan (01512725942), Assam (0361-2731621, 2731622, 2731623) and West Bengal (8134054999). Railways Divisional Manager Dilip Kumar Singh, along with several top officials, is on his way to the spot.
A special train is being operated with 1,050 passengers on board to ferry them to their respective destinations.
Meanwhile, the Indian Railways has diverted nine trains due to the derailment.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the tragedy.
Speaking to ANI about the tragedy, Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy said, “It is suspected that there was a crack on track, it should be investigated. The Railway Minister should give a clear statement on the incident.”
