GUWAHATI, June 17: The death toll in the tragic train near Darjeeling in West Bengal rose to 15 while over 60 injured in the horrific mishap after a goods train overshoot signal and rammed into the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express near Rangapani station, about 7 kms from New Jalpaiguri station in West Bengal.
The accident took place around 8:37 am with the goods train smashing into the Kanchanjungha Express from behind.
Rescue operations are underway at the spot and the injured persons were being shifted to nearby hospitals.
Meanwhile, the central government announced an enhanced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh to thge next of kin of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those grievously injured and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries.
Incidentally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has already left for the site of the accident while West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also scheduled to visit the accident spot and take stock of the rescue operations.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his grief over the accident.
“The railway accident in West Bengal is saddening. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to officials and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to assist the affected. The Railways Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw Ji is on the way to the site of the mishap as well,” Prime Minister Modi wrote on social media platform X.
