20 injured in Bengal train collision

Malda/Kolkata, July 31 (IBNS) At least 20 people were injured when eight coaches and the engine of Guwahati Bengaluru Express on Sunday night jumped tracks near Malda and another passenger train hit the derailed bogies and got derailed itself.

Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi said one body was recovered from the site but it was not from the train collision.

The body could of a victim run over by a train.

"According to our reports there were 20 minor injuries. They are being taken care of," said Trivedi.

"West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also taking every minute stock of the situation since it occurred in Bengal," said Trivedi.

The accident occurred at around 7-05 pm at Jamirghata in Malda district (about 10 km from Malda station) in north Bengal.

The train that hit the derailed Down Guwahati Bengaluru Express (bound for Bangalore) is Up Azimgunj Passenger.

Three bogies and the engine of Azimgunj Passenger also derailed, said a Railway official.

Some of the derailed compartments were luckily parcel vans, reports said.

"I am taking stock of the situation and we have rushed our senior officials and relief train. We are trying to provide all relief to the injured passengers and make them comfortable," Trivedi said.

He said 17 bogies of the Guwahati-Bengaluru Express that had not derailed were being sent to Malda.

He said the Commissioner of Railway Safety will probe the accident.

A survivor of the Guwahati-Bengaluru Express said he saw a fire when the passenger train hit their derailed engine.

Trivedi said he would try to ensure that modern technology is introduced so that there are almost no such accidents.

"This [derailments] would not be tolerated. We will see if there is too much pressure on the tracks," he said.

He said responsibilities would be fixed for each incident and any employee- at any level- would be taken to task.

In a train tragedy involving Kalka Mail near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh earlier this month 70 people were killed.

Meanwhile, several trains from Howrah and New Jalpaiguri were cancelled owing to the accident.

Helpline Number at Howrah is 033-2641-1416.