"Loco pilot of goods train ignored signal," claims Railway Officer on Kanchenjunga accident

Kausik Mitra said, "The prima facie reason is that the loco pilot of the goods train ignored the signal...He (loco Pilot) was ordered to stop at the signal for a minute at day time and had to proceed at the speed of 10 or 15 km per hour but he was not proceeding at the speed of 10 km per hour...More reasons will be out after the investigation by the Commission of Railway Safety."

As many as 10 people were killed and 25 people were injured in the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express near North Bengal's Jalpaiguri station at 8.55 am on Monday. The accident took place in the Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district.

Notably, a passenger, who was travelling on the Kanchenjunga Express at the time of the accident, filed a complaint against the loco pilot and co-loco pilot of the goods train.

The passenger, identified as Chinmoy Majumdar, mentioned in her complaint that while the train was moving suddenly a jerk was felt, creating a panicky atmosphere. She has received injuries and some co-passengers have also sustained grievous injuries.

"After coming down from the train, she found that one goods train hit the Kanchenjunga Express from the back side after which some portion was badly damaged including the engine of the goods train. The accident happened due to rush and negligent conduct of the loco pilot and co-loco pilot," the complaint further said.

After the accident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had attacked the Narendra Modi government over the alleged negligence of Railways while the Bharatiya Janata Party state chief Sukanta Majumdar said that it is "not the time for politics".

"This is not the time for politics... Being a CM, Mamata Banerjee claiming that she has introduced the anti-collision device is absolutely ridiculous...," Majumdar said speaking to ANI on Monday.

"The railway department has given Rs 50000 in cash to all the injured and those who are seriously injured have been given Rs 2.5 lakh each... The Railway Minister is so laborious that every time such an incident occurs, he visits the accident site...," he had added.

On Monday, Banerjee targeted the central government over their alleged negligence towards Railways saying that they have only engaged in publicity of Vande Bharat trains.

"I started so many things, but they are only doing publicity of Vande Bharat trains. Where is Duronto Express? After the Rajdhani Express, Duronto was the fastest train. During the time of elections, they inaugurate Vande Bharats. This does not work. Today, the entire Railway Department is facing negligence and callousness of the government. They must take proper care," Banerjee had said while speaking to reporters after meeting patients admitted at the North Bengal Medical College on Monday.

The Chief Minister had also said that the central government does not give adequate importance to the Ministry and the department can only be seen at the time of inauguration of projects.

"Now, the Railway Department exists only in name. They have done away with the Railway Budget. Though the Ministry exists, the earlier aura about it has been destroyed. Railways have become parentless. You can only see the Railways at the time of inauguration," the Chief Minister had said. (ANI)