Three coaches of the Secunderabad-Shalimar Superfast Express (Train No. 22850) derailed near Nalpur Station in West Bengal's Howrah on Saturday morning. According to South Eastern Railway's chief public relations officer (CPRO), Omprakash Charan, the incident involved three coaches—one of which was the B1 coach.
The derailment, reported early this morning, has raised concerns among passengers and authorities alike. However, Om Prakash Charna confirmed that no injuries or fatalities have been reported so far.
The railways said an accident relief train and medical relief trains from Santragachi and Kharagpur were immediately dispatched for assistance. Buses have also been sent to ferry the passengers to Kolkata.
"At 5:31 am, the Secunderabad-Shalimar Weekly Express train derailed while going from the middle line to the down line. One parcel van and two passenger coaches have derailed. No major injury or casualty has been reported. Around 10 buses have been arranged for passengers for their onward journey," Charna said.
Help desk numbers in connection with derailment at Nalpur:
Shalimar:
62955 31471
45834 (Railway)
Santragachi:
98312 43655
89102 61621
Kharagpur:
63764 ( Railway )
P/T. 032229-3764
Howrah
75950 74714
Over the last five years, 351 people died and 970 were injured in 200 consequential railway accidents, according to the report citing data shared by the Indian Railways from 17 railway zones.
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw last month, while inspecting the Kolkata-based PSU Braithwaite and Co, said that 10 years ago, there were 171 accidents per year; this had come down to 40 accidents now.
