The North East Express, a train journey that was meant to connect Delhi to Kamakhya, took a tragic turn near Raghunathpur station in Buxar district, Bihar. This unfortunate incident occurred at 9:53 pm, claiming the lives of at least four passengers and leaving 70 others injured. Two of the derailed coaches, AC III Tier, suffered severe damage, as captured by television footage.
Buxar SP Manish Kumar confirmed the unfortunate loss of four passengers, while an RPF official reported that 70 passengers were wounded and promptly taken to nearby hospitals. Those critically injured were swiftly transferred to AIIMS, Patna.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives and promised a thorough investigation into the derailment’s cause. He also assured that the rescue and evacuation operations were successfully completed, and all coaches were inspected for safety. This incident has deeply affected the train, which originally comprised 23 coaches and commenced its journey from Anand Vihar terminal in Delhi at 7:40 am on Wednesday, with the destination being Kamakhya, near Guwahati, after nearly 33 hours of travel.
Local eyewitnesses like Hari Pathak recounted hearing a loud noise and seeing smoke billowing from the derailed train. He described how they rushed to the scene and discovered the severe impact on the AC coaches. The locals displayed remarkable compassion by helping passengers escape from the overturned coaches. Even a woman passenger in shock received assistance from the caring community. Police officials arrived on the scene to lend a hand in rescuing passengers from the distressed train.
Rajiv Chandra Singh, SDPO of Jagdishpur, explained that the accident had resulted in damage to electric wires, poles, and rail tracks. While some coaches lost balance, they fortunately did not overturn, reducing the overall casualties. Further details regarding the accident’s cause will be provided by the technical team. Birendra Kumar, CPRO of the East Central Railway zone, disclosed that the train had departed from Buxar station less than 30 minutes before the accident, en route to Ara.
Significantly, the train had no scheduled halt at Raghunathpur station, the site of the derailment. As soon as the incident was reported, ambulances and doctors were dispatched to the location. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav instructed the disaster management and health departments to expedite relief efforts, ensuring the well-being of as many affected individuals as possible. He coordinated with district magistrates in Buxar and Bhojpur and organized swift relief work.
Medical officers and health workers readied themselves for rescue and relief operations at Sub-Divisional Hospital Jagdishpur and Shahpur Hospital in Bhojpur district. Ambulances from Rohtas, Buxar, and Bhojpur districts were swiftly deployed to the scene, underlining the urgency of the situation.
The railways acted swiftly to make alternative arrangements for transporting the derailed train’s passengers to their destinations. A scratch rake was dispatched from Patna, designed to carry passengers from the accident site. This temporary rake featured a configuration similar to the original train, ensuring passenger safety and convenience. Additionally, six buses were deployed for the evacuation of passengers to safety.
Another railway official arranged a rake from Ara to facilitate the onward journeys of stranded passengers. Deepak Kumar, Inspector of RPF, confirmed that medical teams were dispatched to the scene. Furthermore, local hospitals in Buxar town were alerted by the district administration, reinforcing the collaborative efforts to provide timely assistance.
In summary, the North East Express derailment near Raghunathpur station was a tragic incident that shook the region. Prompt response from authorities, local communities, and railway officials played a crucial role in mitigating the impact of this unfortunate event and ensuring the safety and well-being of the affected passengers.
