At least five people died when Kanchenjunga Express, which runs between Kolkata and Silchar,  Assam state, was struck by a freight train in Siliguri. 

Darjeeling police superintendent Abhishek Roy told reporters that five passengers have died and 25-30 injured in the accident. He said that the situation is serious. The incident occurred when a goods train rammed into Kanchenjunga Express.

Mamata Banrjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, in her X (formerly Twitter) handle said, “Shocked to learn, just now, about a tragic train accident, in Phansidewa area of Darjeeling district. While details are awaited, Kanchenjunga Express has reportedly been hit by a  goods train. DM, SP, doctors, ambulances and disaster teams have been rushed to the site for rescue, recovery, medical assistance. Action on war-footing initiated.”

Over  16,000 people were killed in nearly 18,000 railway accidents occurred in India in 2021, according to the country’s  National Crime Records Bureau.

Only year ago 280 people were killed in a three-way crash involving two passenger trains and a freight train in Odisha.