Home

homeindia News

Bikaner Guwahati train accident: 5 killed and over 45 injured; kin of deceased to get Rs 5 lakh ex gratia; all other passengers rescued

Bikaner-Guwahati train accident: 5 killed and over 45 injured; kin of deceased to get Rs 5 lakh ex gratia; all other passengers rescued

By CNBCTV18.com Jan 14, 2022 12:00:48 PM IST (Updated)

Follow real-time updates on Union Budget 2023 Catch exclusive videos on Union Budget 2023 from CNBC-TV18

The accident occurred near Dohomoni in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district. TV footage showed rescue workers trying to extricate the trapped passengers from the coaches that lay on their side down the elevated tracks.

At least five people died and more than 45 sustained injuries when a dozen coaches of the 15633 Bikaner-Guwahati Express train derailed and overturned in West Bengal on Thursday. The accident occurred around 5pm near Dohomoni in Jalpaiguri district.

TV footage showed a number of coaches lying on their side down the elevated tracks, while rescue workers were seen trying to extricate the trapped passengers.

The Northeast Frontier Railway said there were about 1,053 passengers onboard at the time of derailment and a special train to ferry the stranded passengers has left for the accident site from New Jalpaiguri at 7.05 pm, an NFR statement said. Around 9.30 pm, the NFR said, rescue operations had been completed.

Assam special DGP (Law and Order) G P Singh said in a tweet that the relief train with stranded passengers is expected to reach Guwahati around 2am on January 14. All stranded passengers have been provided with drinking water and snacks from the pantry car of the train.

The relief train has started at 9.50 PM from accident site and would stop at New Alipurduar for food etc. It would stop at Bongaigaon, Barpeta Road, Rangia, Kamakhya and Guwahati Railway Station.
— GP Singh (@gpsinghips) January 13, 2022

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences to the families of the deceased and said, "May the injured recover quickly."

Spoke to Railways Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw and took stock of the situation in the wake of the train accident in West Bengal. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 13, 2022

Union railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said he will reach the accident site on Friday. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi too has taken stock of the situation. "Our focus is on the rescue (operations). Ex gratia has also been announced," Vaishnaw said.

Guwahati-Bikaner Express derailment | I am reaching the site tomorrow morning. Medical teams, senior officers at the spot. PM Modi also took stock of the situation and rescue operation. Our focus is on rescue. Ex-gratia also announced: Union Railway Miniter Ashwini Vaishnaw pic.twitter.com/6Rpgb8Gzg9
— ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2022

Guneet Kaur, Chief public relations officer, NFR, Guwahati, said ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh will be given to the kin of the deceased, while severely injured passengers will be given Rs 1 lakh. Those with minor injuries will get Rs 25,000.

Accident occurred around 5 pm b/w Domohani & New Maynaguri. Around 10 coaches affected. 3 dead, 20 injured; 5 lakh for deceased, Rs 1 lakh for severely injured, Rs 25,000 for minor injuries. High-level inquiry ordered: Guneet Kaur, Chief PRO, North-East Frontier Railway, Guwahati pic.twitter.com/wCaGBA9M66
— ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2022

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted, expressing distress over the accident, and assured that "those injured will receive medical attention, as early as possible".

Deeply concerned to hear about the tragic accident of the Bikaner-Guwahati Express in Maynaguri.Senior Officers of the State Government, DM/SP/IG North Bengal are supervising rescue and relief operations. Those injured will receive medical attention, as early as possible.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 13, 2022

The accident occurred more than 90 km from Alipurduar Junction, a NFR spokesperson said, adding, "An accident relief train with a medical team is on way to the spot. We are awaiting further details," the spokesperson said.

Two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were dispatched, as were State DRF teams, cutting equipments, ambulances and food materials.

A high-level Commission of Railway Safety enquiry has been ordered into the accident, officials said.

Chairman of the Railway Board VK Tripathi and Director-General (Safety) Ravinder Gupta have left from Delhi for the accident site, Railway officials told CNBC-TV18.

Helpline numbers:

0361-2731621/22/23

Additional helpline numbers

Patna junction: 9341506016

Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction: 7388898100

Danapur: 7759070004

Sonpur: 9771429999

With agency inputs

(Edited by : Vijay Anand)

First Published: Jan 13, 2022 6:48 PM IST

Check out our in-depth Market Coverage, Business News & get real-time Stock Market Updates on CNBC-TV18. Also, Watch our channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNBC Bajar Live on-the-go!

Home

Live TV

CNBC-TV18 Specials

Sections

Terms and Conditions