4 Dead; Many Injured as Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express Derails
Eight coaches of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed in Gonda district, resulting in two deaths and prompting a high-level enquiry.
On the night of 17th July 2024, the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express left Chandigarh station at 11:35 PM, heading towards Dibrugarh in Assam. The next day, on 18th July 2024, tragedy struck when the train derailed between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway stations in Gonda district at around 2:35 PM.
Eight coaches of the train went off the tracks, causing a loud noise that sent passengers and children screaming for help. Many passengers escaped through emergency windows and doors of the tilted sleeper coaches. They had to wade through knee-deep water in the fields on either side of the track to reach the nearby road. Others, either shocked by the accident or injured, sat on the track itself, waiting for rescue.
Rescue teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed for relief work. They were seen entering the damaged coaches to ensure no passengers were left behind.
Tragically, two people have died in the accident. The deceased have been identified as Saroj Kumar Singh (31) from Araria in Bihar, and Rahul (38) from Chandigarh.
According to sources, both loco pilots of the train are safe. Railway officials stated that the loco pilot heard a loud explosion-like sound before the derailment. However, Uttar Pradesh police said there was no explosion before the incident.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences, saying, “The train accident in Gonda district is extremely unfortunate. District administration officials have been directed to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing and to take the injured to the hospital on top priority and provide them proper treatment. I pray to Lord Shri Ram for the speedy recovery of the injured."
The Ministry of Railways has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those with serious injuries, and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries. A high-level enquiry has been ordered by the Railways to investigate the cause of the derailment.
