One killed, 49 injured in Brahmaputra Mail accident

KOLKATA: One person was killed and 49 injured after 14 bogies of the Delhi-bound Brahmaputra Mail derailed near New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, officials said on Monday.

The accident occurred near Nichbari Railway Station in the Katihar division of North-Eastern Railway at 10.55 pm on Sunday.

Railway catering employee, Imroz, died in the pantry car that suffered the maximum damage.

While officials said 49 people were injured, unconfirmed reports put the figure at over 100. The injured have been admitted to railway hospital and North Bengal Medical College.

Railway officials didn't rule out sabotage.

"We have started an inquiry to ascertain the exact cause of the accident. But as so many jawans of paramilitary forces were travelling in the train, sabotage cannot be ruled out either," North East Frontier Railway Chief Public Relations Officer TK Rabha said from Guwahati.

A medical team has been sent to the area, according to the official.

"Of the total wounded, 37 people have suffered serious injuries. They are being tended to in various hospitals," Rabha added.

Two trains, Assam-Awadh Express and Mahananda Express, have been stranded as a result of the accident. It will take another three to four hours for the tracks to be cleared, Rabha said.

At least 400 people (mainly military personnel) died August 1, 1999, when the Brahmaputra Mail hit the stationary Awadh-Assam Express head on at Gaisal, around 100 km from Siliguri.