02:04 AM, 18-Jun-2024
Kolkata. Passengers were assisted by the railways at Malda station. A team of seven railway doctors and more than 50 medical assistants took care of the passengers in each coach. Paracetamol/ORS etc. were provided as requested. No passenger made any special request.
Escorting by RPF
20 RPF personnel (one per coach) were deployed to address any security concerns. 22 Scouts and Guides assisted in the distribution of 1,300 food packets (each containing veg biryani, curd, pickle and drinking water) and food/water (juice, cake, biscuits, wet and dry tissues).
Train cleaning and full water
40 OBH staff were engaged in cleaning each coach and providing water. More than 100 additional staff members interacted and extended general assistance to the passengers. Additional coaches – 1GS and 1 SLR were added to the train as advised by NFR. DRM Malda along with officials/medical team interacted with passengers of most of the coaches. Passengers were found to be orderly and generally comfortable due to the relief arrangements.
02:02 AM, 18-Jun-2024
…and when the green signal was received late at night, the journey was back on track
On Monday morning, at the place where the Kanchenjunga Express met with a horrific accident, traffic was restored at around 11 pm due to the tireless efforts of the railways and others. The tracks were repaired. The repair work was completed. As soon as the green signal was received, a goods train was the first to resume its journey on that track.
09:41 PM, 17-Jun-2024
The Tripura government has sent a two-member team to the Kanchenjunga Express accident site to assist the people of Tripura. Secretary to the Chief Minister of Tripura PK Chakraborty shared the details of the incident. Earlier on Monday, the tragic rail accident took place. He told that on June 16 at 8:15 am, the Kanchenjunga Express left Agartala railway station for Sealdah with passengers loaded with material. The train had 23 coaches, including 21 passenger coaches and 2 VP parcel coaches. He also mentioned that the Tripura State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) was activated after the accident, which provided helpline numbers and was coordinating with railway officials for the latest updates.
He informed that a special team from Tripura Bhawan Kolkata has been sent to the accident site to help the people of Tripura. The team is expected to arrive by this evening. He informed that as per the instructions of Tripura Chief Minister Professor Manik Saha, it was decided that the state government will bear the medical expenses of all the injured persons. He informed that if any Tripura resident dies in this, then the state government will give a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family of the victim. He informed that however, there is no news of the death of any Tripura resident so far.
09:11 PM, 17-Jun-2024
West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar visited the accident site. Majumdar said, “It is indeed a sad incident. According to preliminary investigation, it (train accident) happened due to human error. I have spoken to the Railway Minister as well as the DRM of this area and the operation on this route will start around 12 noon. I think she (Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) should not do politics at this time. But as I said in the morning that she will do politics and that is what has happened.”
09:09 PM, 17-Jun-2024
#WATCH Kanchenjunga Express train accident: West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose meets the injured at North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri. pic.twitter.com/KM6UgYMS4Y
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2024
05:16 PM, 17-Jun-2024
This is not the time to do politics: Railway Minister Vaishnav
Vaishnav said, right now our focus is on repairs. This is the main line. The rescue operation has been completed. This is not the time to do politics. I will also meet the injured.
05:07 PM, 17-Jun-2024
Railway Minister visited the site of the train accident
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav visited the site of the train accident at Rangapani near New Jalpaiguri station and took stock of the situation. As the road was too narrow for large vehicles to ply, the Railway Minister had to travel some distance on the back of a motorcycle to reach the accident site.
04:47 PM, 17-Jun-2024
#WATCH West Bengal: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to shortly visit the Kanchenjunga Express train accident site in Darjeeling district. pic.twitter.com/wmAti3z2MV
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2024
04:44 PM, 17-Jun-2024
I will go to the hospital to meet the injured: Sukanta Majumdar
On the train accident, Union Minister Sukant Majumdar said, I will reach Siliguri at around 5:30 pm and will go to the hospital to meet the injured. Our MPs and MLAs are there. The Railway Minister will also reach there in a short while. We are with the people in this hour of grief.
04:42 PM, 17-Jun-2024
The government only cares about elections: Mamata Banerjee
Regarding the train accident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, they (Railway Ministry) do not care about the facilities of passengers. They do not care about railway officials, engineers, technical staff and workers. They are also in trouble. Their old pension has been withdrawn. I am completely with the railway employees and officials. They are trying their best. But this government only cares about elections.