GUWAHATI: The death toll in the train accident in West Bengal on June 17 morning has gone up to nine while more than 40 are injured. The accident occurred when a container freight train hit the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express from behind near Jalpaiguri around 9 am.
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The Northeast Frontier Railway said that nine people were dead while more than 40 others were injured.
On the other hand, among the dead, 7 are passengers and while 2 are railway staff/crew, including a loco pilot of the goods train. The collision caused four coaches of the Kanchanjunga Express, which was travelling from Agartala, and five containers to derail, according to the NFR.
Reports also suggest that the goods train overshot a signal and rammed into the Kanchanjunga Express, which was stationary at that moment. According to reports, the impact was mitigated by the train's configuration: the rear part of the Kanchanjunga Express consisted of a cargo van and the guard's coach, with passenger compartments positioned further ahead.
The Kanchanjunga Express is a daily service connecting Sealdah in Kolkata with Agartala via Guwahati and Silchar. The accident has also disrupted the movement of several other trains on this route.
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The NFR has diverted the following 19 trains via different points:
Trains diverted via New Jalpaiguri:
Siliguri Juction, Bagdogra & Aluabari Road route
1. 19602 New Jalpaiguri — Udaipur City Weekly Express of 17.06.
2. 20503 Dibrugarh — New Delhi Rajdhani Express of 16.06.24.
3. 12423 Dibrugarh — New Delhi Rajdhani Express of 16.06.24
4. 01666 Agartala — Rani Kamlapati Special train of 16.06.24
5. 12377 Sealdah- New Alipurduar Padatik Express of 16.06.24
6. 06105 Nagercoil .1n.- Dibrugarh Special of 14.06.24 .
7. 20506 New Delhi- Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express of 16.06.24.
8. 12424 New Delhi- Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express of 16.06.24.
9. 22301 Howrah- New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express of 17.06,24.
10. 12346 Guwahati- Howrah Saraighat Express of 17.06.24.
11. 12505 Kamakhya- Anand Vihar Northeast Express of 17.06.24.
12. 12510 Guwahati- Bengaluru Express of 17.06.24.
13. 22302 New Jalpaiguri- Howrah Vande Bharat Express of 17.06.24.
14. 15620 Kamakhya- Gaya Express of 17.06.24.
15. 15962 Dibrugarh- Howrah Kamrup Express of 17.06.24.
16. 15636 Guwahati- Okha Express of 17.06,24.
17. 15930 New Tinsukia- Tambaram Express of 17.06.24.
18. 13148 Bamanhat- Sealdah Uttar Banga Express of 17.06.24.
19. 22504 Dibrugarh- Kanyakumari Express of 17.06.24.