Goods train Derails in West Bengal, 2 Wagons derail, No Injuries Reported

A goods train derailed in Darjeeling district, West Bengal, near Rangapani railway station on Wednesday. Two wagons of the train went off the tracks, but, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. This come a day after the Howrah-Mumbai Mail derailment in Jharkhand that claimed 2 lives and a month after a freight train collided with the Kanchanjunga Express on the same route, resulting in 10 deaths.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her concern over the recurring train accidents. “Another rail accident today, in the same Phansidewa/ Rangapani area in North Bengal, where there was a most tragic accident just six weeks back! We are very concerned about what is happening!!” posted the West Bengal Chief Minister on the social media platform “X”.

According to reports, the freight train en route from Rangapani to the Numrigar Refinery derailed after passing Chathat railway station. The derailment occurred when the train made a turn towards the refinery, causing two middle wagons to come off the tracks. Recovery engines from the New Jalpaiguri loco shed were dispatched to the scene, and senior railway officials arrived promptly. Restoration work began immediately, and train movement on the route was temporarily disrupted. Sabyasachi Dey, the chief public relations officer of North East Frontier Railway, commented, “I have learned that two wagons of a freight train got derailed. Work is on to normalize the situation. I don't think it will take much time.”

Earlier in the month, on July 21, a goods train had also derailed in Ranaghat, West Bengal. The accident occurred just a day after 18 coaches of the Howrah-Mumbai Mail derailed, resulting in two deaths and injuring over 20. On June 17, the Kanchanjunga Express collided with a goods train near Rangapani railway station, resulting in 10 deaths.​