New Delhi: In a shocking turn of events from Bihar, the North East Express, bearing the number 12506, met with a disastrous derailment on its journey along the Delhi-Howrah route. Reports have confirmed that a staggering 21 carriages of this train veered off the tracks, with a further 6 carriages of the North East Express suffering complete overturns.
This unfortunate incident unfolded near the Raghunathpur station in Bihar’s Buxar district, marking a grim day for travelers aboard the North East Express (12506) en route from Delhi’s Anand Vihar Terminal to Kamakhya in Assam. The railway authorities revealed that the accident struck at precisely 9:53 p.m. The train, comprising a total of 23 coaches, had commenced its journey from Delhi’s Anand Vihar Terminal at 7:40 a.m. the previous Wednesday.
Regrettably, the incident has already claimed the lives of four passengers, as confirmed by the Buxar District Magistrate. Presently, efforts are underway to rescue and tend to the injured, with 15 ambulances, 4-5 buses, and a dedicated SDRF team swiftly mobilized to the scene. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, both NDRF and SDRF teams have been dispatched to lend their support.
How did this calamity occur, you might wonder? Preliminary reports suggest that at least two SC three-tier coaches capsized, while four additional coaches derailed, triggering a chain reaction resulting in the derailment of a total of 21 carriages.
In the wake of this tragic accident, Union Minister Ashwini Choubey promptly arrived at the scene this morning. Minister Choubey wasted no time in informing the Railway Minister, NDRF, SDRF, Bihar’s Chief Secretary, and the District Magistrate. He has called upon the public to come forward in large numbers to assist the affected individuals. An investigation into the cause of this incident is currently underway.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, upon learning of the late-night derailment of North East Express 12506, which was traveling from Anand Vihar to Kamakhya, took to Twitter to express his concern. He stated, “I have received the news of the derailment of North East Express 12506 going from Anand Vihar to Kamakhya. We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with local authorities and other agencies.”
The Assam Chief Minister’s Office has further affirmed its vigilance over the unfortunate train derailment (train number 12506) at Raghunathpur and remains in constant contact with the district authorities and other agencies in Buxar.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav also provided an update regarding the North East Express train accident. He conveyed on the social media platform X, “Evacuation and rescue work has been completed. All coaches have been checked. Passengers will be sent on special trains for their onward journey.”
