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2024 West Bengal train collision

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West Bengal train collision
Map
Location of collision
2024 West Bengal train collision is located in India
2024 West Bengal train collision
Crash location on a map of India
Details
Date17 June 2024 (2024-06-17)
around 9:00 IST
LocationNear Rangapani railway station, Darjeeling district, West Bengal
Coordinates26°40′N 88°23′E / 26.66°N 88.38°E / 26.66; 88.38
CountryIndia
LineKatihar–Siliguri line
OperatorIndian Railways
OwnerGovernment of India
Incident typeCollision, derailment
CauseUnder investigation
Statistics
Trains2 trains
Passengers8
Crew1
Deaths9
Injured60

On 17 June 2024, two trains collided in Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The accident happened when a goods train collided with Sealdah–Agartala Kanchanjunga Express, a passenger express train near Rangapani railway station. Nine people were killed and more than 60 were injured.

Crash

On 17 June 2024, Kanchanjunga Express (Train no:13174), a passenger express train was traveling from Agartala in Tripura to Sealdah in West Bengal. The train was proceeding from the New Jalpaiguri Junction and crossed Rangapani railway station, a non-stopping station on the Katihar–Siliguri line. The train was stationary on the tracks, waiting for a green signal to proceed further towards Chatterhat railway station. At 8:45 IST, a goods train (Train no:GFCJ) crossed the Rangapani station and was proceeding on the same line. At 8:53, the goods train rammed the stationary passenger train from behind, causing three coaches of the Kanchenjunga Express to derail.[1][2]

Victims

Nine people were killed and more than 60 were injured in the collision. The loco pilot of the goods train was amongst those killed.[3][4]

Aftermath

The Railways minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the site to oversee the response.[5] The Ministry of Railways announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh (US$12,000) for the dead, ₹2.5 lakh (US$3,000) for those seriously injured and ₹50,000 (US$600) for those with minor injuries.[6] Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh (US$2,400) for the dead and ₹50,000 (US$600) for the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).[7] Chief Minister of Tripura Manik Saha announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh (US$2,400) for the victims who were from Tripura.[8] 19 trains were cancelled in the aftermath of the accident.[9]

Causes

The chairman of the Railway Board indicated that the loco pilot of the goods train ignored multiple red signals, which might have caused the crash.[10] The loco pilot union criticized the statement stating that the entire blame is placed on the dead driver even before a preliminary investigation has been completed.[11] Railway sources indicated that the cause of the incident may have been a faulty automatic signal, which was defective since 5:50 IST.[12] The trains were not equipped with Kavach, a collision avoidance system designed by the Indian Railways.[13]

Preliminary investigation revealed that the train drivers of the trains on the line were issued manual clearances to ignore the faulty signals. The passenger train had crossed nine signals from the Rangapani station and was awaiting further clearance. The loco pilot of the goods train was also issued a manual clearance by the station master of the Rangapani station to ignore the faulty signals and proceed further, because of which the goods train proceeded on the same line.[14][11] It was indicated that the station master could have issued the clearance to the goods train, thinking that the passenger train had already cleared the line and manual error could have been the cause of the accident. The rules of Indian Railways stipulate that, in case of manual clearance, the loco pilots should operate the trains at low speeds of 10 km/h (6.2 mph), wait for one minute at every signal during the daytime and ensure that at least 150 m (490 ft) of clear track is visible before proceeding. These restrictions seem to have been ignored, which had caused the crash.[15]

Reactions

President of India Draupadi Murmu indicated her distress on the news and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.[8] On 17 June, Prime Minister Modi offered his condolences and indicated that the rescue operations are underway.[7] Leader of the Congress Mallikarjun Kharge offered his condolences and criticized the central government for mismanaging the ministry of railways.[16] Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed that a thorough investigation will be conducted on the accident.[17] [18]

Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banarjee said that the state is helping with the rescue operations and criticized the central government for not focusing on passenger safety.[17] Leader of the BJP J. P. Nadda, Cheif Minster of Odisha Mohan Charan Majhi and former Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik also expressed their condolences. Governor of West Bengal C. V. Ananda Bose, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP West Bengal Chief Sukanta Majumdar visited the North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri where the injured were being treated.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "9 dead as goods train rams Kanchanjunga Express in Bengal, coach flung into air". India Today. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  2. ^ "9 Dead, 25 Injured After Goods Train Hits Kanchanjunga Express In Bengal". NDTV. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  3. ^ "9 including loco pilot dead in collision; PM announces compensation for victims". The Indian Express. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  4. ^ "9 dead as goods train rams Kanchanjunga Express in Bengal, coach flung into air". India Today. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Railway minister visits site". The Hindustan Times. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  6. ^ "West Bengal Train Accident: ₹10 lakh ex-gratia announced". Live Mint. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b "PM Modi offers condolences, Railway minister Vaishnaw heads to West Bengal". The Economic Times. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "Kanchanjunga Express Accident Highlights: PM Takes Stock, Rail Minister Reaches On Bike". NDTV. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  9. ^ "19 trains cancelled as Kanchanjunga Express accident disrupts service". The Hindustan Times. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Seems the goods train disregarded the signal; Prima facie human error". The Economic Times. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  11. ^ a b "What caused Kanchenjunga Express crash? Railway board cites human error, ground info indicates signal glitch". The Times of India. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Kanchanjunga Express accident: Signal had been defective since 5.50 am, says a railway source". The Economic Times. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Kavach system not in place on mishap route, says Railway Board Railway sources". The Hindu. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Kanchanjunga accident: locopilot of goods train had authority to cross all signals in red". The Hindu. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Human Error Or Signal Failure: What Led To Kanchanjunga Train Accident". NDTV. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  16. ^ "Kanchanjunga Express accident: Mallikarjun Kharge slams Modi govt, says 'utter mismanagement' of railway ministry". The Economic Times. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  17. ^ a b "INDIA bloc pans government over Bengal train accident: Only cares about elections". The Hindustan Times. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Kanchanjunga Express Accident: Railways to hold inquiry into West Bengal train mishap on June 19". The Economic Times.

External links

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