New Delhi. The pictures and videos of the collision between Kanchenjunga Express and goods train near Jalpaiguri in Darjeeling, West Bengal today were heart-wrenching. The way the bogies piled up on top of each other after the collision gives an idea of how terrible the accident was. This accident has once again brought back the horrific memories of many old train accidents. Let us tell you when major rail accidents took place in the country before this and how many people lost their lives in them.
West Bengal: Agartala-Sealdah Kanchenjunga Express derails after colliding with freight train at Rangapani. Several passengers injured, relief and rescue operations underway. pic.twitter.com/H1Vchm2gQJ
— IANS Hindi (@IANSKhabar) June 17, 2024
A similar accident happened about 1 year ago in Balasore, Odisha when three trains collided on 2 June 2023. The collision was between the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a freight train. About 280 people died in this horrific accident while more than 1000 people were injured. This accident is considered one of the deadliest train accidents ever.
The biggest rail accident in the country so far happened in Bihar about 40 years ago on June 6, 1981. 7 out of 9 coaches of a train crossing the bridge fell into the Bagmati river. According to government records, about 300 people died in this accident, while people say that about 750 people lost their lives in it. This rail accident is considered the second biggest rail accident in the world.
VIDEO | Visuals from Kanchanjungha Express and Goods Train collision spot near West Bengal’s New Jalpaiguri.
(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/mLCp9XCO3t
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 17, 2024
20 August 1995 was also a black day in railway history when Purushottam Express collided with the stationary Kalindi Express near Firozabad, UP. About 400 people lost their lives in this accident.
After this, a major rail accident happened on 26 November 1998 in Khanna, Punjab where Jammu Tawi Sealdah Express collided with three coaches of derailed Frontier Golden Temple Mail. 212 people died in this accident.
#WATCH Wagons of goods train have derailed after the train collided with Kanchenjunga Express at Ruidhasa in Darjeeling district of West Bengal pic.twitter.com/YZ0OmM6Fgd
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2024
Not even a year had passed since this horrific incident when another train accident occurred on 2 August 1999. The Brahmaputra Mail collided with the Avadh Assam Express standing at Gasal station in Katihar division of Bihar. 285 people died and about 300 passengers were injured in this.