Siliguri, June 17 (UNI): Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on Monday visited the accident site at Ranidanga and interacted with the injured in the hospital.
As per the latest report, nine people were killed and 41 injured after a goods train hit the Sealdah bound Kanchanjunga Exp from Agartala (Tripura) at Ranidanga near Phansidewa in Darjeeling district, about 11 km south of NJP Junction.
Vaishnaw told reporters after the rescue operations were completed the restoration work was taken up to restore normalcy in the section.
The Minister said out of the nine dead five bodies which included two drivers of the Goods train, the guard of the passenger train, one RMS employee, and a state Excise department official have been identified.
Vaishnaw said the authorities were examining the causes of the accident. The Minister reached the accident site riding pillion on a motorcycle.
The railways minister then visited the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital and talked to the injured people admitted to the hospital.
Out of the 41 injured while the condition of 9 was serious, 32 have simple injuries, sources added.
Sources said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also reached Bagdogra Airport on her way to the accident site
Banerjee blamed the railway authorities for the accident and asked why the accident happened when the anti-collision device was developed during her tenure in the railway ministry.
” Indian Railways is now parentless. Banerjee said. State governor CV Ananda Bose is also expected to visit the accident site in North Bengal
