At least four individuals lost their lives, while approximately 50 others sustained injuries when 21 coaches of the North East Express train derailed near Raghunathpur station in Bihar’s Buxar district. The mishap occurred at 09:35 PM on Wednesday, causing a major disruption in the Danapur division of the East Central Railway.
The North East Express, en route from Delhi’s Anand Vihar Terminal to Kamakhya in Assam, suffered the derailment, prompting swift action from both locals and district authorities who initiated rescue efforts. Critically injured passengers have been expedited to AIIMS Patna for urgent medical attention, while railway officials are currently at the scene, overseeing the situation.
Birendra Kumar, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the East Central Railway zone, reported, “Information has been received from the local district administration that around 50 people got injured.” Meanwhile, Tarun Prakash, General Manager of East Central Railways (ECR), confirmed the distressing news, stating, “4 casualties have been confirmed, and rescue operations are underway. 21 coaches have derailed.”
Looking forward, Prakash emphasized that a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the incident would be launched following the completion of rescue operations. In response to the crisis, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw provided reassurance, stating, “Evacuation and rescue are complete. All coaches checked. Passengers will be shifted to a special train soon for their onward journey.”
The Assam Chief Minister’s Office expressed deep concern over the tragic derailment and assured that they are closely monitoring the situation. They stated, “The Chief Minister’s Office is closely monitoring the unfortunate derailment of Train Number 12506 in Raghunathpur and is in touch with the district authorities in Buxar and other agencies.”
This heart-wrenching incident transpired just over four months after the devastating triple train tragedy in Odisha’s Balasore district in June, claiming 296 lives. On June 20, 2023, the Coromandel Express, a goods train, and the SMVT Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express collided, leaving 176 individuals with severe injuries, 451 with minor injuries, and 180 requiring initial medical attention.
Also Read: Cauvery Row: CWRC Directs Karnataka to Ensure Release of 3000 Cusecs of Water by Oct 31
Catch all the Latest Business News, Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on NewsX
