Death toll touches 8 in Bikaner-Guwahati Express train derailment, probe ordered

The death toll in the Bikaner-Guwahati Express train derailment in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district rose to eight on Friday, while 42 others were hospitalised after being injured in the mishap.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said he is personally monitoring the situation and has apprised PM Narendra Modi about the rescue operations.

An ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh has been announced for the kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for those who receive grievous injuries and Rs 25,000 for those who suffer simple injuries.

Of the injured, 28 were admitted to Jalpaiguri district hospital and 7 were sent to Moynaguri government hospital. Seven critical passengers were shifted to the North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri, Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Moumita Godara Basu told India Today.

She mentioned that authorities recovered four bodies from the accident site while three people died in hospital. “Since some of them are in a critical condition, the death toll may go up,” she said, adding that search and rescue operations continued through the night amidst darkness and thick fog.

An inquiry headed by Commissioner, Railway Safety has been ordered into the cause of the accident.