West Bengal: Dibrugarh-Chandigarh Express catches fire, two bodies recovered

KOLKATA: A major accident was averted after one of the two locomotives of the 15904 Dibrugarh-Chandigarh Express caught fire near the Chatterhat station, around 20 km from New Jalpaiguri (NJP) around 11.20 am on Friday. The fire spread to the luggage-cum-guard van next to the locomotive. Firefighters found two bodies from the spot, but they had not suffered burns. It is being suspected that they are of two unreserved passengers who panicked and jumped off the train after spotting the flames in the locomotive.The bodies have been moved to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital for autopsy.
According to P J Sharma, CPRO, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), fire was detected in the diesel locomotive soon after the train crossed Chatterhat. “Immediately on receipt of information, fire department staff left NJP for the site. A railway medical team along with accident relief train also reached the spot. The unaffected coaches were hauled by another locomotive to Chetterhat station. The division railway manager of Katihar and Sanjive Roy, general manager, NFR, also rushed to the site,” he said.
The bodies were recovered by the railway medical team and it seems that they were in the luggage van with unreserved tickets. As they hadn’t suffered burns, it is suspected that they died due to injuries suffered due to the impact after jumping off the train. Witnesses, however, claimed that several others also jumped off the train and suffered injuries. This has not been confirmed though.
“Among the trains affected due to the accident were the Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, Kamakhya-Puri Express, Silchar-Trivandrum Express and Kamakhya-Rajendranagar Capital Express. These trains were diverted to run via Siliguri Jn – Bagdogra – Aluabari section. The unaffected coaches of the Dibrugarh-Chandigarh Express left Chatterhat for New Jalpaiguri around 3.35 pm. An inquiry has been ordered into the accident,” Sharma added.