Death toll rises to eight in Kanchanjungha Express-goods train collision
New Delhi, (Orissa Today), June 17: The death toll in the Kanchanjungha Express-goods train collision has risen to eight, officials reported on Monday.
According to Abhishek Roy, Additional Superintendent of Police for Darjeeling district, the deceased include the loco pilot of the goods train that collided with the Kanchanjungha Express. Roy did not rule out the possibility of the death toll increasing as rescue operations continue. Over 30 individuals have been injured so far.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to rush to the accident site to personally oversee the rescue operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, announced that Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is also en route to the accident location.
As the number of injured individuals admitted to hospitals in north Bengal rises, the state health department has checked the blood reserves. All medical staff and those in emergency departments have had their leaves canceled indefinitely.
Meanwhile, the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) has decided to run special buses between Siliguri and Kolkata to assist passengers of the ill-fated train.
Following the accident, which occurred on the principal railway route between West Bengal and northeast India, the Railways have diverted several long-distance trains, including the Rajdhani Express and Vande Bharat Express. The Northeast Frontier Railways have announced several helpline numbers to assist those affected.
