12 coaches of Guwahati-Bikaner Express derail in Bengal. 5 dead, over 20 injured

Twelve coaches of the Guwahati-bound Bikaner Express derailed in the Moynaguri region of north Bengal on Thursday evening, leaving five passengers dead and many injured.

Jalpaiguri district magistrate Moumita Godara Basu said five bodies have been found till 7 pm and over 20 passengers with injuries were rushed to the local Moynaguri government hospital. About 15 passengers are reported to be in critical condition. A special train from Jalpaiguri reached the accident site at around 7 pm to take the injured to the hospital.

The location where the train with 577 passengers met with the accident is part of the Alipuarduar section of the Northeast Frontier Railway.

A railways spokesperson said the accident took place at 5 pm, nearly seven minutes after the express train passed the New Domohani station.

“12 coaches jumped off the tracks of which two capsized,” Guneet Kaur, chief public relation officer of Northeast Frontier Railway said.

Most of the passengers were going to Assam. Kaur said passengers who were not hurt in the accident will be taken to Guwahati on a separate train.

Jalpaiguri district magistrate Moumita Godara Basu said they were getting generators to light up the area. “All departments have been alerted. Rescue staff are being rushed from all locations,” Basu said.