Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express Derailment Rescue Operations Concludes With Special Train Departing for Assam
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/19th July 2024
Rescue efforts have concluded at the site of the tragic derailment of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express near Gonda, Uttar Pradesh. The incident, which occurred on Thursday between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway stations, resulted in the derailment of eight coaches. The derailment claimed the lives of at least three passengers and left over 30 others injured. A special train has since departed for Assam carrying 600 passengers who were affected by the incident.
Following the derailment, ambulances and medical teams were swiftly dispatched to the scene. However, their efforts were temporarily hampered by adverse weather conditions. Eyewitness accounts reveal that the train driver reported hearing a “sound of a blast” prior to the derailment, as reported by news agency PTI.
The victims of the derailment have been identified as Saroj Kumar Singh, 31, from Araria, Bihar; Rahul, 38, from Chandigarh; and one unidentified individual. The severity of the incident prompted the government to announce an ex-gratia compensation: Rs 10 lakh for the families of those deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those with severe injuries, and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries.
In response to the derailment, the Railways Ministry has launched a high-level investigation to ascertain the cause of the incident. Pankaj Singh, Chief Public Relations Officer for the North Eastern Railway, confirmed that the probe will investigate the driver’s claim of a possible minor explosion before the derailment. Additionally, a commissioner of railway safety has been appointed to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter.
The derailment has sparked political reactions as well. The Congress party has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to address the “significant lapses” and to expedite the installation of the Kavach anti-collision system across all railway routes to enhance safety.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, passengers faced harrowing conditions as they escaped from the wrecked train. Many had to use emergency windows and doors to exit the sleeper coaches, while those in the AC coaches broke window panes to assist others. The passengers then waded through knee-deep water in the surrounding fields to reach the nearest approach road for safety.
This derailment highlights ongoing concerns about railway safety and the need for stringent measures to prevent such incidents in the future. As investigations continue, the focus remains on providing support to the affected families and ensuring that such tragedies are not repeated.
