Twelve coaches and the engine of New Delhi - Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express (train No. 12236) were derailed at around 2.10 a.m. today between Chhapra Kacheri – Goldenganj section in Chhapra district of Bihar under Sonpur pision in East Central Railway (ECR). The train was running from New Delhi to Dibrugarh. Of the 12 coaches, 5 coaches alongwith the engine have capsized whereas six coaches were derailed. According to the information received from the site of accident, 5 persons have died and 23 persons were injured which include 8 grievously injured persons. Two passengers with simple injuries were discharged after first medical aid. All injured were shifted to Sadar Hospital in Chhapra and Patna Medical College & Hospital (PMCH). At 7.05 a.m. today, rests of the stranded passengers were carried by a special train to their respective destinations.
The Minister of Railways Shri D.V.Sadanand Gowda, Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha, Member Mechanical, Railway Board Shri Alok Johri and Member Traffic, Railway Board Shri D.P.Pande reached the site from Delhi to personally take stock of the situation. They also visited hospitals to see the injured passengers.Earlier, General Manager of East Central Railway (ECR), Shri Madhuresh Kumar and pisional Regional Manager of Sonpur pision Shri Rajesh Tiwari and senior officials of ECR & Sonpur pison along with a team of doctors immediately reached the site soon after the accident took place.
The Railway Minister Shri Gowda has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh to the next of kin of dead, Rs. 1 lakh to persons with grievous injury and Rs. 20,000 to those who received simple injuries. Chairman, Railway Board, Shri Arunendra Kumar constantly monitored the relief and rescue efforts from Delhi headquarters. An enquiry into the accident will be conducted by Commissioner of Railway Safety, Eastern Circle, Shri P.K.Bajpai.Because of this incident, movements of some of the trains were affected causing cancellation/partially cancellation/persion of some of the trains. Details of this incident is also available of the website of ECR i.e. ecr.indianrailways.gov.inHelplines have been set up to provide information to families of the victims and other passengers at Chhapra, Samastipur, Hajipur, Sonpur, Barauni, Muzaffarpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Balia, Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Mariani, Dimapur, Lumding, New Coochbehar, New Jalpaiguri and Katihar.
Followings are the numbers of helplines:-
East Central Railway
Chapra- 06152-243409/237807, Cug-09771443941
Hajipur- 06224-272230
Sonpur- 06158- 221639
Samastipur- 06274-222613
Barauni- 06279- 265210/231414
Muzzaffarpur- 0621-2213034
Northeastern Frontier Railway
Guwahati-0361-2731621/2731622/2731623
Katihar- 06452-230062
Dimapur- 03862-2231732
New Jalpaiguri-0353-2691808
New Cochbihar-03582-224162
Tinshukia-0374-2342385
Dibrugarh- 0373-2300131
Morayni- 03771-242044
Alipurdwar-03564-270870/270871/253498
New Bongigoan-03664-231754
Kokrajhar-03661-271734/271735/271736
Norther Railway
New Delhi – 011-23342954/23341074, 030-22280(Rly) Spl. Rly-1072
Lucknow- 09794830976, Rly. 032-25507
Varanasi- 0542-2503814, Rly. 032-62733
Muradabad-0591-1072
Barelly-0581-2558161/62 Rly. 32222
Gazipur City- 0548-2223435