A nurse on duty at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH), on the outskirts of Siliguri, faced a shocking tragedy on Monday morning. Caleb Subba, her husband, died in the Kanchenjunga Express train accident. Subba, a sub-inspector in the state excise department, died when a goods train crashed into the Kanchenjunga Express at Chhoto Nirmaljote, near Siliguri.
Subba had boarded the train from New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Junction after visiting his sick two-year-old son in Siliguri. He was returning to his duties in Malda, where he served as the officer-in-charge at Manikchak Circle. His body was brought to the hospital where his wife worked, leaving her in deep shock. Subba, originally from Gorubathan, had been posted in Malda for three months after a transfer from Darjeeling.
Ashish Dey, the railway guard of the Kanchenjunga Express, also lost his life in the collision. Ashish, 40, had left for work on Monday morning like any other day. His neighbors in Ward 32 of Siliguri Municipal Corporation were devastated by his sudden demise, mourning the loss of their cheerful friend and neighbor.
The accident also claimed the lives of Shankar Mohan Das and Partha Sarathi Mandal, both staff members of the Railway Mail Service (RMS). Their colleagues were seen weeping as their bodies were brought to NBMCH for autopsies. In total, nine people, including three railway staff, died in the crash, and over 40 people were injured.
In addition to expressing his sympathies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the tragedy as terrible and prayed for the injured people's quick recovery. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the accident site, announcing that the Commissioner of Railway Safety had started a probe into the cause of the accident. He promised compensation for the victims’ families: ₹10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, ₹2.5 lakh to those grievously injured, and ₹50,000 for those with minor injuries.
Initial investigations revealed that the goods train driver had been authorized to pass all red signals due to a failure in the automatic signaling system. An internal document, TA 912, allowed the driver to cross red signals but mandated a reduced speed and specific safety checks. Despite these precautions, the collision occurred near Rangapani station, about 30 kilometers from NJP station.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the central government, claiming the railways had become "parentless" and focused more on fare hikes than on improving passenger safety and amenities. She urged for better implementation of the anti-collision system, noting an increase in train accidents.
This tragedy evoked memories of the Gaisal train accident of August 2, 1999, for local residents like Asit Baran Roy, who recalled the haunting sounds of weeping from that disaster. Society has been deeply affected by the Kanchenjunga Express tragedy, with many people mourning the passing of loved ones and the terrible course of events.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)