Digital Desk: At least four people were killed and over 70 injured after six coaches of the Delhi-Kamakhya North East Express derailed near the Raghunathpur station in Bihar’s Buxar on Wednesday night, 11 October. The incident is said to have occurred at 9:53 PM.
The 23-coach 12506 North East Express had departed from Delhi’s Anand Vihar terminal at 7:40 AM on Wednesday towards Kamakhya, Guwahati.
“The train was coming at a normal speed but suddenly we heard a loud sound and a plume of smoke rose out of the train. We rushed to see what happened. We saw that the train had derailed and the AC coaches were the most damaged,” a local resident named Hari Pathak told PTI.
Officials said that the injured persons have been shifted to various local hospitals, and those with serious injuries have been moved to AIIMS, Patna.
Meanwhile, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw took to X to say that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to the site of the accident and are working with local officials.
“Rescue operation going on at war footing at Buxar derailment site. NDRF, SDRF, District administration, Railway officials, and local residents are all working as one team. Injured shifted to hospital. War room operating,” he said.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said in a video message that the state government is actively engaging in rescue and relief operations.
“We have talked to health department, disaster department officials and district magistrates. Alert has been issued to hospitals of Buxar, Arrah and Patna. Bihar Police Force and SDRF have also been sent to the spot. Our priority is to save the lives of as many people as possible,” Yadav took to X to say.
A railway official said one rake has been arranged from Ara to end the stranded passengers on their onward journeys. “Medical teams have been sent to the spot,” Deepak Kumar, inspector of the Railway Police Force, told reporters, adding that the district administration had alerted local hospitals in Buxar town.
“We have sent rescue and medical teams to the spot. The railways also issued emergency helpline numbers for passengers. These are 9771449971 (Patna), 8905697493 (Danapur), 8306182542 (Ara), 8306182542 and 7759070004,” he said.