Engine and Five Coaches of Kolkata-Sairang Express Derail in Assam

UPDATE - follow-up to Assam train derailment LIVE updates: Six coaches of Sairang-Kolkata Express train derail: Six coaches, including the engine, of the Kolkata-Sairang Express went off the tracks at Digaru railway station in Assam early Wednesday morning after the loco pilot reportedly failed to control the speed while giving precedence to another train.

Relief Operations

According to Northeast Frontier Railway official Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, the incident occurred at around 6:54 a.m. as the train was being received at the station. The General Manager and other senior officials rushed to the accident site, while relief and rescue operations started immediately. All passengers are safe, no injuries have been reported, and alternate trains were arranged to help travellers reach their destinations.

Context

Train accidents in the region often prompt quick deployment of rescue teams and alternate transport arrangements by railway authorities to minimize passenger inconvenience. Giving precedence to another train is a standard operational practice where one service is held briefly on a loop or side track to let a faster or higher-priority train pass safely.