Jalpaiguri: The Bikaner-Guwahati Express train derailed killing at least five people and critically injuring scores more while on its way from Dohomoni that falls under Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal today evening. Television crews captured footage of coaches lying sideways with rescue workers attempting to extricate injured passengers on the site.
The train derailed when 12 of its coaches went off track and overturned at the spot of the accident. Of the critically injured passengers, 10 were admitted to the Jalpaiguri district hospital. The neighbouring Moynaguri hospital has admitted 15 critically injured passengers. In its rescue efforts, the government rushed 12 ambulances besides a civil defence team. The DM of Alipurdaur said, additional arrangements are in place to accommodate injured passengers at Falakata and Birpara hospitals.
Later in the evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “I had spoken to the Railways minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw. He took stock of the situation in wake of train accident in West Bengal. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured persons recover quickly.”
– global bihari bureau
