Bihar Train Mishap: Meghalaya Establishes Helpline for Affected Passengers

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya government has taken swift action by setting up a dedicated helpline to assist its residents who were passengers on the North East Express, which derailed in Bihar's Buxar district. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, on Thursday, shared that he has also communicated with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to address the situation.

Meghalaya government officials have maintained close contact with railway authorities to guarantee that passengers from the state, traveling on the train en route to Assam from Delhi, receive necessary support. Fortunately, as of now, no individuals from Meghalaya have been reported as injured in the accident.

In the event that anyone requires assistance, the state authorities have established a helpline reachable at 1800 345 3644.

The incident took place on Wednesday, around 9.53 pm, when twenty-three coaches of the North East Express, on its journey from Delhi's Anand Vihar station to Kamakhya in Assam, derailed. Tragically, the accident resulted in the loss of four lives, with several others sustaining injuries, according to officials.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and conveyed his wishes for the swift recovery of the injured. He also mentioned that a relief train had already departed from Raghunathpur to Kamakhya Junction to facilitate the return of the stranded passengers of Train 12506. In a prior statement, he noted, "I have received news of the derailment of North East Express 12506 - from Anand Vihar to Kamakhya. We are closely monitoring the situation and are establishing contact with local authorities and other agencies."

Tarun Prakash, the General Manager of the East Central Railway, was present at the Raghunathpur site to oversee the restoration efforts following the derailment of multiple coaches of the North East Express travelling from Anand Vihar Terminus in Delhi.

Prakash provided an update, stating, "The total count of casualties stands at four, with 40 passengers reported as injured. The precise cause of the derailment can only be determined through a thorough investigation. Our current focus is on expeditiously clearing the railway tracks. During this time, train services along this route will be rerouted."

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