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Sainthia, West Bengal: Fifty-five people were feared killed in a train collision in West Bengal near the border of Jharkhand. More than 170 people have been taken to hospital, some are said to be in critical condition.

Around 2:00 a.m. on Monday, the Uttar Banga Express coming from New Cooch Bihar to Sealdah rammed a stationary Vananchal Bhagalpur-Ranchi Express in the station Virbhum Sainthia district, 191 km from Howrah.


Casualties are feared in two bogies in general second class of Vananchal Express. These coaches and baggage car and van guard of the train were affected. A local television channel said the impact was so severe that the roof of a bogey had been highlighted in the collision and was thrown over a bridge.


Relief operations are located in and around 32 bodies have been pulled from the rubble. The Army has also been called for rescue operations. Seven army officers and jawans 160 have been sent to the site. Equipment such as gas cutters are being used to lift people out of the piles of mutilated are the bogies. More gas cutters are being brought from Panagarh and Kachhrapara to remove the bodies trapped in the mangled carriages. The focus is on saving lives and locals in the area have been helping in the rescue efforts. There are people who come out unscathed from the rubble.


PTI sources said Eastern Railway Kolkata had confirmed that the driver of the Uttar Banga Express, MC Dey, had died in the accident, but there were no reports on the fate of assistant controller NK Mandal.

The guard at the Vananchal Express, A Mukherjee, also died in the accident.

Sainthia is about 22 km from Rampurhat and most of the injured are being rushed to a hospital there. Some have been taken to the district headquarters, Shiuri. Some of those injured in Shiuri are said to be in critical condition. There are reports, blood shortages.

The train accident relief medical van first and arrived at the scene at about 3.35 hours. More trains are on track to Rampurhat, Asansol and Burdwan.

Since the accident, the bogies in a good state of Vananchal Express has been switched off and the train has stopped Sainthia Ranchi. A new engine also has come for the Uttar Banga Express and Sealdah train to depart soon.

Eastern Railway CPRO, Samir Goswami said a few trains - Express Kanchunjunga, the Darjeeling bound Sealdah Express mail and Kanchankanya had been diverted.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee was in Delhi and rushed to the scene as high officials.

Questions arise about how the two trains were on the same line. In addition, the arrival and departure of Uttar Banga Express in Sainthia was 1.38 hours and 1.39 hours and it was unclear why the train, which was stopped at the station, arrived at a high speed. An investigation headed by Commissioner of Railway Safety has been ordered into the incident, the PRO of the Ministry of Railways said.

Control rooms have been opened in Sealdah, Malda, Bhagalpur and Howrah.