New Jalpaiguri: Eight people were killed and at least 60 others were seriously injured when the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express collided with a goods train near New Jalpaiguri station in North Bengal.
Railway officials said the collision occurred at around 9 AM near Rangapani station, approximately seven kilometers east of New Jalpaiguri, resulting in derailment of three rear compartments.
Since the rear part of Kanchanjunga Express comprised of the cargo van and the guard’s coach, the collision resulted in less casualties as the passenger compartments were further ahead.
The injured have been shifted to the North Bengal medical college and they are being provided the best possible treatment, the officials said.
The train was travelling from Agartala to Sealdah when the accident occurred around. Long-distance train services have been temporarily stopped.
The unaffected front portion of Kanchenjunga Express will soon resume its onward journey towards Sealdah so that the passengers can reach their destination.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of the eight people killed in the railway mishap.
The injured people will get ₹50,000 for their treatment.
