Kanchanjunga Express Accident: Nirmaljote Villagers Call Off Bakrid Celebrations To Rescue Survivors

A tragic railway accident took place on Monday near the Rangapani station after a goods train rammed the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express in West Bengal. At least nine people are reported to be dead and over 50 people sustained injuries. The accident occurred at a distance of only seven kilometres from Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri station. Shocked by the incident, the nearby village named Nirmaljote decided to cancel the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha also known as Bakrid. Mohammad Hakim, a resident of Nirmaljot village heard a loud noise and ran to see the Kanchanjunga Express in the grip of a terrible accident. After hearing countless screams, the residents of Nirmaljot village immediately went and rescued the injured people.

The nearby Nirmaljote villagers rescued many people since the collision, estimated around 9:00 am. They sent the injured to the North Bengal Medical College for treatment without the availability of ambulances or medical professionals, claims Mohammed Hakim. Imam Md Basiruddin of Nirmaljote village said he saw the incident while returning from morning prayers. “The people of the entire village went and rescued. No house in the village has grown rice today,” said Imam Md Basiruddin. He claimed that the villagers didn’t sacrifice a goat on that day which is one of the rituals of the festival Bakrid. The villagers are sad to witness this tragic accident, added Imam Md Basiruddin.

“It’s a special day for our community but this thought became secondary. The entire focus of all the villagers present was to help the passengers…. We had to respond to the call of humanity,” said Md Hakim as quoted by The Telegraph.

The Kanchanjunga Express train runs between Silchar in Assam and Sealdah in Kolkata. It was coming to Sealdah from Agartala when the goods train hit it from behind near Rangapani station. Loco pilot and assistant driver of the goods train and guard of the Kanchanjunga Express train have died in the incident, informed Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board. The collision is said to be a human error.