Train smashes into back of another in India, killing at least 8
- The crash in West Bengal state is the latest to hit India’s creaking rail network, which carries millions of passengers each day
Local media showed images of the pile-up, with containers from the goods train strewn on the tracks and one carriage nearly vertical in the air in the accident, which followed one a year ago that was the worst in more than 20 years.
The state’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a post on social media platform X that a cargo train had collided with Kanchanjunga Express in the state’s Darjeeling district. She said doctors, disaster-response teams and ambulances were engaged in rescue work at the site. “Action on war-footing initiated,” she said.
“We have confirmation of seven deaths and 39 passengers admitted at a local hospital with various injuries,” said local police officer Iftikar-Ul-Hassan.
The incident is the latest to hit India’s creaking rail network, which carries millions of passengers each day.
“We just saw the bodies of a dead driver and a guard … their bodies were taken out,” said Rajesh Kumar Singh, from India’s Railway Protection Force. “Some more bodies may be under the crash site, but we don’t yet know for sure.”
Television channels showed visuals of one train rammed into the end of the other. Swarms of people had gathered at the spot, where rescuers were searching the crash site, which occurred close to the New Jalpaiguri station.
