Kanchanjunga Express Accident: Railway Minister announces Rs 10 lakh compensation, death count rises to 15

Kanchanjunga Express Accident, West Bengal Train Accident latest updates: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the kin of the deceased. 

"Enhanced ex-gratia compensation will be provided to the victims; Rs 10 Lakh in case of death, Rs 2.5 Lakh towards grievous and Rs 50,000 for minor injuries" he said in a tweet. 

Meanwhile, Vaishnaw on Monday left for West Bengal to take stock of relief operations following the train accident.

At least 15 passengers died and 60 others were injured after three rear coaches of the stationary Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express derailed on Monday morning as a goods train collided with it in West Bengal's Darjeeling district, officials said.

The toll could rise, as multiple agencies of the state and Centre were simultaneously working on war footing along with locals to rescue passengers who could still be trapped inside, they said.

The deceased include the pilot and co-pilot of the goods train, a senior railway official said.

The injured are being taken to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, police said.

The three rear compartments derailed under the impact of the collision from behind by the locomotive of the goods train near Rangapani station, about 30 km from North Bengal's New Jalpaiguri station, the official said.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the "railway accident in West Bengal is saddening. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones".

"I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to officials and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to assist the affected. The Railways Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw Ji is on the way to the site of the mishap as well," he said.

The PM also announced that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of each deceased, while the injured would be provided Rs 50,000.

The accident triggered haunting memories of the Coromandel Express disaster near Bahanaga Bazar in Odisha a year ago, which killed nearly 300 people and injured over a 1,000 others.
The 13174 Kanchanjunga Express was bound for Sealdah from Agartala when the accident occurred around 9 am, the railway official said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a post on X, said: “Shocked to learn, just now, about a tragic train accident, in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. While details are awaited, Kanchenjunga Express has reportedly been hit by a goods train.

“DM, SP, doctors, ambulances and disaster teams have been rushed to the site for rescue, recovery, and medical assistance. Action on war-footing initiated,” she added.

Long-distance train services from north Bengal and the northeastern part of the country were affected due to the accident.

With PTI Inputs