Tragedy struck the Delhi-Kamakhya North East Express on Wednesday night as it derailed near the Raghunathpur station in Bihar's Buxar district, resulting in at least four passengers losing their lives and 70 others sustaining injuries. The derailment, which occurred at 9:53 pm, left six coaches of the train in disarray. Two AC III Tier coaches had toppled over, while the remaining four coaches had jumped off the tracks, as depicted by television visuals.
Buxar Superintendent of Police, Manish Kumar, confirmed the unfortunate loss of lives, stating, "Four passengers had died in the accident." Meanwhile, Railway Police Force officials revealed that at least 70 injured passengers were promptly transported to local hospitals, with those in critical condition rushed to AIIMS in Patna.
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Expressing condolences for the victims, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw promised, "We will find the root cause of the derailment." He assured that evacuation and rescue operations had been swiftly carried out, with all coaches inspected for safety.
The 12506 North East Express, consisting of 23 coaches, embarked on its 33-hour journey from Anand Vihar terminal in Delhi at 7:40 am on that fateful Wednesday, destined for Kamakhya, just six kilometers from Guwahati.
Local resident Hari Pathak, an eyewitness, described the incident: "The train was coming at a normal speed, but suddenly we heard a loud sound and a plume of smoke rose out of the train. We rushed to see what happened. We saw that the train had derailed, and the AC coaches were the most damaged."
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Television footage showed the community response, with locals assisting passengers in exiting the toppled coaches, even tending to a woman in shock. Policemen were also actively involved in the rescue efforts.
The incident led to substantial damage, including electric wires, poles, and rail tracks. Jagdishpur SDPO Rajiv Chandra Singh clarified, "While some coaches lost balance and fell, none of them overturned, which contributed to fewer casualties." Further investigation into the accident's cause was assured by him.
The accident occurred near Raghunathpur station, where the train doesn't typically make a scheduled stop, according to Chief Public Relations Officer of the East Central Railway zone, Birendra Kumar.
Relief measures were swiftly initiated, with ambulances and medical personnel dispatched to the scene. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav instructed disaster management and health departments to take immediate actions to aid the affected passengers. He also personally contacted district magistrates for hastening relief efforts.
Meghalaya's Chief Minister took to Twitter in response to the incident, stating, " We are in touch with railway authorities and have been monitoring the situation. Citizens of Meghalaya can reach out to State authorities for assistance. Helpline No. 18003453644. "
For passengers left stranded by the derailment, alternative arrangements were set in motion. A temporary train, known as a scratch rake, was sent from Patna to transport them from the accident site. Additionally, six buses were dispatched for passenger evacuation.
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Indian Railways also canceled two trains and diverted 21 others following the derailment. The cancelled trains included Kashi Patna Jan Shatabdi Express (15125) and Patna Kashi Jan Shatabdi Express (15126). The diverted trains took alternate routes, ensuring minimal disruption to rail services.
Rescue and medical teams have been dispatched to the site, ensuring assistance for those in need. The railways have taken proactive steps, issuing emergency helpline numbers for passengers, including 9771449971 (Patna), 8905697493 (Danapur), 8306182542 (Ara), and 7759070004.
In addition, war rooms have been set up to monitor and facilitate the early restoration of the coaches. Rescue operations are in full swing, diligently overseen by railway officials.
