A collision between the Kanchanjungha Express and a goods train around 9 am today, near West Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri, has reportedly left five people dead and several severely injured, as per government officials. 

Two bogies of the Kolkata-bound passenger train reportedly derailed following the collision. “Five people, including the driver of Kanchanjunga Express, died on the spot while 25 were injured,” Abhishek Roy, additional SP Kurseong, told ANI.

The Sealdah Eastern Railway has set up a control desk at Rangapani station in Siliguri of Darjeeling district to assist the families of those who lost their lives and the injured passengers. Their helpline numbers are 03323508794 and 03323833326.

The ministry of railway also released a host of helpline numbers.

Reports said that the line on which the accident took place is the main rail link from Kolkata to Siliguri, and long-distance train services have been temporarily halted. The region has also been witnessing heavy rainfall since morning. 

The accident between 13174 Kanchanjunga Express from Agartala and a goods train reportedly took place at 9 am near Rangapani close to New Jalpaiguri station, as per the PTI.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to X to express shock and said that rescue action has been initiated on “war-footing”.

Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav iterated on X that rescue operations are going on at war footing, and the railways, NDRF and SDRF are working in close coordination.

In a later tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the accident is “saddening” and he took stock of the situation, while Vaishnav is “on the way to the site of the mishap”.

The PMO also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

This is a developing story, this report will be updated with further details.

Small teams can do great things. All it takes is a subscription. Subscribe now and power Newslaundry’s work.