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Kanchenjunga Express Accident: The Kanchenjunga Express travelling from Agartala in Tripura to Sealdah derailed in New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal on Monday morning. According to initial reports, the rear three coaches of the Kanchenjunga Express derailed after being hit by a speeding freight train.
So far nine people have been reported dead and 47 injured. Human error and faulty signals were blamed for this accident. Let us take a look at the ten major updates related to this rail accident.
– Kanchenjunga Express was going from Agartala in Tripura to Sealdah. As soon as it crossed Rangapani station at 8.55 am, a freight train hit it from behind. The collision was so severe that two coaches derailed. Also, one coach was hanging on the engine of the freight train. Nine people died and 47 people were injured in this incident.
– As soon as the information about the accident was received, teams of railway, NDRF and SDRF along with local administration reached the spot for relief and rescue work. But due to heavy rains, there were difficulties in the rescue work.
– The automatic signalling system between Ranipatara railway station and Chattar Hat junction in Bengal stopped functioning from 5.50 am on Monday. This is the same place where the goods train hit the Kanchenjunga Express.
– Rangapani station master issued written memo TA-912 to Kanchenjunga Express at 8.20 am due to failure of automatic signal system. The same memo was given to goods train at 8.35 am. Rangapani station master issued memo TA-912 to both the trains.
– This written memo is given when the automatic signal system is not working. In which the public pilot is allowed to cross all the red signals. If TA 912 memo is not issued to the goods train, then the driver has to stop the train for one minute at every faulty signal. Also, it has to run at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour. It is said in the memo that the loco pilot has to monitor each gate. The train can run only when the gate is closed. If the gate is open, the train has to be stopped beforehand.
– The Railway Board has held the freight train driver responsible for this train accident. Railway Board Chairman Jaya Verma Sinha said that the freight train driver ignored the signal, which led to the accident.
– Question on Railway's statement to Loco Pilot Organization
It is suspected that the driver violated a railway signal. Sanjay Pandi, acting president of the Indian Railway Loco Runningmen Organisation (IRLRO), said that after the pilot's death and pending CRS investigation, the public objected to holding the pilot responsible.
– Nine people have died in this accident, out of which four have not been identified yet. A list of names of all the injured has also been released.
– Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced an increase in the relief amount announced for the victims of the Kanchenjunga Express accident. Under this, Rs 10 lakh will be given to the families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh to the seriously injured and Rs 50 thousand to the less injured.
– Train timetables were changed extensively after the Kanchenjunga train accident. After the accident, 19 trains on the affected routes were diverted or cancelled.
– The track is being repaired after the accident. Sleepers are also being laid to straighten the track. After the track work is completed, OHE wire work will be started.