Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bikaner-express-derailment-railways-ex-gratia-several-dead-injured-pm-takes-stock-guwahati-west-bengal-1899752-2022-01-13
Publisher: India Today
Indian Railways announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the family members of people who lost their lives after multiple bogies of Bikaner Express (15633) derailed in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also taken stock of the situation.
The grievously injured will be given Rs 1 lakh while people with simple injuries will be offered Rs 25,000.
In a tweet, PM Modi said: “Spoke to Railways Minister Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw and took stock of the situation in the wake of the train accident in West Bengal. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly.”
Five people have been confirmed dead in the accident. Sources, however, suggest that at least 12 coaches suffered damage when the derailment took place.
The train that started from Bikaner in Rajasthan was heading to Guwahati in Assam via Patna when the accident took place near Mainaguri in Jalpaiguri around 5.15 pm on Thursday. Mainaguri was not one of the train’s 34 stoppages and the Bikaner Express was merely passing Jalpaiguri at the time of the incident.
“I am reaching the site tomorrow morning. Medical teams, senior officers are already at the spot. PM Modi also took stock of the situation and rescue operations. Our focus is on rescue. Ex-gratia has also been announced,” says Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
There were a total of 1,200 passengers on board, including 177 who boarded the train from Bikaner and 98 passengers who boarded the train from Patna junction.
