Six Coaches of Kolkata-Sairang Express Derail Near Guwahati, Several Passengers Injured

India: Several passengers were injured after six coaches and the locomotive of the Kolkata-Sairang Express derailed at Digaru railway station near Guwahati in Assam's Kamrup (Metropolitan) district early Wednesday morning. No fatalities have been reported so far.

According to Indian railway authorities, the incident occurred at approximately 6:54 am when the train was entering Digaru railway station. The train was reportedly being received at the station to allow another train to pass ahead of it. During the process, the locomotive allegedly failed to maintain control of its speed, resulting in the derailment of the engine and several passenger coaches.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) confirmed the incident, stating that six coaches of the Kolkata-Sairang Express had derailed. However, some media reports indicated that the total number of derailed units could be seven, including the locomotive. The exact number is yet to be officially established.

Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway, confirmed the derailment and said senior railway officials had immediately rushed to the accident site.

"Six coaches of the Kolkata-Sairang Express derailed at Digaru railway station at around 6:54 am today. So far, no casualties have been reported. Our senior officials have rushed to the spot," Sharma said.

Although initial reports from railway authorities suggested that all passengers were safe, subsequent reports from Indian media indicated that several passengers had sustained injuries. Some reports put the number of injured at around seven. The injured passengers were being shifted to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. Most of the affected coaches were reportedly air-conditioned.

Following the incident, railway authorities launched rescue, relief and restoration operations. Railway personnel, emergency teams and senior officials reached the site to assist passengers and assess the situation. Arrangements were also being made to transport stranded passengers to their respective destinations through alternative trains.

The General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway, along with other senior officials, also proceeded to the accident site to supervise rescue operations and coordinate efforts to restore railway services.

The derailment severely affected railway traffic in the area, with both railway lines near Digaru station reportedly disrupted. The incident temporarily affected train movements connecting different parts of eastern Assam, the Barak Valley and the northeastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura.

The preliminary account has pointed towards a possible speed-control issue while the train was entering the station. However, the exact circumstances leading to the derailment have not yet been established, and a detailed investigation is expected to determine the cause of the accident.