The Delhi-Kamakhya Northeast Express derailed near Raghunathpur station in Bihar’s Buxar district, on late Wednesday night. This resulted in four passenger fatalities and 30 injuries. This incident led to the diversion of 92 trains and the cancellation of eight others.
At the accident site, pillars, electrical poles, and signal posts along both tracks were damaged. Trains on the New Delhi-Howrah main line faced delays as they were halted at various locations.
Officials indicated that the derailment might have occurred due to poor track maintenance or a fault in the track changing point. An official stated, “The area is not known for any unlawful activities.”
The train derailment followed a rail disaster in June caused by faulty connections in the automated signaling system. On June 2, 288 people were killed and over 1,000 injured in Odisha’s Bahanaga Bazar when a passenger train hit a stationary freight train before jumping off the tracks and hitting another passenger train in the opposite direction.
Officials identified three of those killed in the Bihar accident as sha Bhandari (33), Akriti Bhandari (8), and Abu Jayand (27). The fourth passenger’s identity remains unknown. Many of the injured individuals are receiving treatment at hospitals in Buxar, Ara, and Patna.
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who promised to find the “root cause of derailment”, was expected to visit the accident site.
The Kamakhya-bound train derailed at 9.35 pm, 1 hour 40 minutes behind schedule, after leaving Buxar station. A relief and rescue train arrived at 1.30 am, evacuating all trapped passengers. East Central Railways’ Birendra Kumar stated that an expert committee is investigating the technical aspects of the derailment. Three coaches, where most damage occurred and fatalities were reported, are under scrutiny.
