Train services resumed on the night of Monday, July 17, on the Rangapani-Chattarhat section in West Bengal, where a tragic accident occurred, killing nine people. The accident happened on June 17 when a goods train collided with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express.
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), headquartered in Guwahati’s Maligaon, has diverted 22 passenger trains from the accident-affected stretch. These trains include the New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express and the Silchar-Sealdah Kanchanjungha Express, which will now travel an extra 26 kilometers to avoid the damaged section in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district.
Restoration and Diversion Details
NFR spokesperson Sabyasachi De reported that the Up line (Guwahati-bound) was restored at 5:40 p.m. on June 17, and the Down line (Sealdah/Delhi-bound) was restored at 7:30 a.m. on June 18. The Avadh Assam Express was the first train to pass the accident site on the Down line at 10:00 a.m.
Despite the restoration, most trains have been diverted through the Aluabari-Siliguri-New Jalpaiguri route to reduce pressure on the affected section and clear the backlog of delayed or stranded trains. According to a railway official, trains on the restored stretch must cross it at a reduced speed until the ballast under the tracks stabilizes, which usually takes 24 hours.
In addition to the diversions, NFR canceled six trains, including two Shatabdi Express trains and six intercity trains, and rescheduled the New Jalpaiguri-New Delhi Superfast Express.
The Accident and Its Aftermath
The accident occurred when the locopilot of the goods train had the authority to cross all signals in red. This led to the collision with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express, causing significant disruption.
Passengers of the Kanchanjungha Express, which departed from Agartala, Tripura, and was scheduled to reach Sealdah at 7:20 p.m. on Monday, finally arrived at their destination at 3:16 a.m. on June 18, eight hours behind schedule. The passengers, who endured the trauma of the accident, received medical care, food, and water at various stations, including Malda Town and Sealdah, during their journey.
The State’s transport department provided buses and small vehicles to ensure that passengers reached their homes smoothly from Sealdah station.
