Kanchanjungha Express accident: Initial probe blames lapses by goods train crew, Jalpaiguri division’s operating department

Initial probe into Kanchanjungha Express accident reveals lapses by rail division and goods train crew, leading to fatalities.

The initial probe into the June 17 Kanchanjungha Express accident has suggested there were lapses by the operating department of the New Jalpaiguri Rail Division and the crew of the goods train that hit the passenger train.

At least 10 people were killed, including the passenger train's guard and the pilot of the goods train after it rammed into the stationary Sealdah-bound Kanchanjungha Express in West Bengal's Darjeeling district on Monday.

The collision occurred near Rangapani station, 30 km from New Jalpaiguri station, causing four rear compartments of Kanchanjungha Express to derail due to the impact by the goods train's locomotive at 8.55 a.m., the official said.

Soon after the accident, Railway Board chairperson Jaya Varma Sinha said the collision took place because the goods train disregarded the signal. The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has started a probe into the cause of the accident.

The railways also set up a probe team of six senior officials who have filed their preliminary report which has been seen by PTI.

While five officials have blamed the goods train driver for violating signals as well as the speed restriction, one has given a dissenting note suggesting that the operating department of the New Jalpaiguri rail division failed to take adequate measures to safeguard the route between Ranipatra (RNI) and Chattar Hat Junction (CAT).

The majority view is that the rear-end dashing of the Kanchanjungha Express by the goods train may have occurred due to the failure of the goods train crew (driver, assistant driver and guard) to obey the rule of "passing the automatic signal at danger position" and also "keeping the excessive speed of the train".