Train Collision in Bankura, West Bengal; 12 Carriages Derailed

WEST BENGAL: In West Bengal's Bankura, near Onda station, two goods trains collided during the early hours of Sunday, resulting in multiple wagons derailing from the impact. The incident, which occurred at around 4 am, unfolded when one goods train collided with the back of the other, causing 12 wagons from the train convoy to derail and lose their position on the tracks. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, although the driver of one of the goods trains did sustain minor injuries in the accident.

Railway officials have issued a statement regarding the incident, highlighting that both trains involved were empty goods trains. However, the exact cause of the accident and the circumstances leading to the collision are yet to be determined. Consequently, train services within the Adra division have been significantly affected by this unfortunate incident. The Adra division serves several districts in West Bengal, namely West Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia, and Burdwan, as well as three districts in Jharkhand, namely Dhanbad, Bokaro, and Singhbhum. This division falls under the jurisdiction of the South Eastern Railway.

Railway authorities are diligently working to expedite the reopening of the upline to minimize disruptions in train services. The prompt restoration of normal operations is crucial as it would enable trains like the Purulia Express to traverse this particular section without any hindrance. The focus is on ensuring the swift resolution of the situation and resuming smooth train movements in the affected area.

Unfortunately, this incident comes merely a month after a horrific triple-train collision in Odisha that resulted in a tragic loss of lives. The collision unfolded in the Balasore district, involving the Coromandel Express and two other trains. The calamity occurred around 7 pm on June 2, near the Bahanaga Bazar station, located approximately 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar. The sequence of events commenced with the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, bound for Chennai, derailing after colliding with a goods train running on the adjacent track. This initial collision caused the rear carriage of the Coromandel Express to veer off onto a third track.

Tragically, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, traveling from the opposite direction on the third track, collided with the derailed coaches. The collision between the three trains resulted in a devastating outcome, claiming the lives of at least 275 individuals. The circumstances surrounding this collision were exceptionally distressing and highlighted the need for stringent safety measures and improved infrastructure to prevent such accidents in the future.

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