Three coaches of the Kanchanjungha Express derailed on Monday morning after being hit from behind by a freight train in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Nine people died, and 41 others were injured, according to a senior railway official.
A senior railway official said that the dead included the driver of the freight train and the guard of the passenger train. Police said the people injured in the accident were admitted to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital. Some local reports, quoting senior West Bengal Police officials, put the death toll at 15.
Where Did This Accident Happen?
The official said that three coaches of the Kanchanjungha Express train derailed after being hit from behind by the engine of a freight train near Rangapani station, about 30 km from New Jalpaiguri station in North Bengal.
The Freight Train Was Given Permission To Cross The Signal
Earlier, it was also reported that the freight train driver made a mistake, causing this accident. However, internal railway documents revealed that the goods train was allowed to cross all red signals as automatic signalling had “failed.”
A railway source said that the driver of the goods train was given a written approval called TA 912 by the station master of Ranipatra, authorising him to cross all red signals.
The authority letter said, “Automatic signalling has failed, and you are authorised to cross all automatic signals between RNI (Ranipatra Railway Station) and CAT (Chatter Hat junction).”
The Goods Train Driver Had the Authority To Cross All Signals
It also mentioned that there are nine signals between RNI and CAT, and the goods train driver has the authority to cross all signals at high speed, regardless of whether they show red or caution (yellow or double yellow) indications.
Railway sources said, ‘TA 912 is issued when there is no obstruction or any train on the line in that section and it gives the driver the authority to cross the red or caution signal. It is a matter of investigation why the station master did this. He may have misunderstood that the previous train has crossed the station section and entered another section.’
The Signalling System Was Out Of Order Since Morning
According to the source, the automatic signalling system between RNI and CAT has been out of order since 5:50 a.m. on Monday. The source told PTI, ‘Train number 13174 (Sealdah-Kanchanjungha Express) left Rangapani station at 8:27 a.m. and was stuck between RNI and CAT. The reason for the train stopping is not known.’
Earlier, The Fault Was Attributed To The Freight Train Driver
According to another railway official, when the automatic signalling system fails, the station master issues a written authority letter called TA 912, which authorises the driver to cross all the red signals in the section due to the fault. Earlier, the Railway Board had said in its initial statement that the freight train driver had ignored the signal.
The Government Announced Compensation
Announcing the compensation, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the families of the deceased would be given Rs 10 lakh each, the seriously injured would be given Rs 2.5 lakh each, and those with minor injuries would be given Rs 50,000 each.
Vaishnav said the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has begun investigating the cause of the accident and that measures will be taken to prevent the circumstances that led to the accident from recurring.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Targeted The Railways
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while talking to reporters at the Kolkata airport before leaving for the accident site on Monday, alleged that the railways have become ‘completely unclaimed’ and its interest is only in increasing fares, not in improving passenger facilities.
