Kanchanjunga Express Accident: Manikchak Circle Sub-Inspector, Returning From Family Visit, Killed

Caleb Subba, a sub-inspector and officer-in-charge in the state excise department, posted at Manikchak Circle in Malda (West Bengal) passed away recently. According to Local 18 Bengal, he had died under the collision’s impact when a goods train rammed into the Kanchenjunga Express at Chhoto Nirmaljote area near Siliguri. The sub-inspector originally hails from Gorubathan village, where his parents still live. He boarded the train from New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Junction early on June 17 after bidding goodbye to his wife and 2-year-old son. Subba had come to Siliguri city on June 15 from his workplace in Malda over the weekend to see his son, who was ill. As per the reports, Subba was going back to Malda to rejoin his duties on June 17. Reportedly, he was sitting in a common room with other passengers.

Subba’s wife, a nurse on duty at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, on the outskirts of Siliguri, was attending to patients on June 17 morning. According to one of Subba’s sisters, she got this news while performing the duty and was in shock.

In the Kanchanjunga Express Train Accident, 9 people were killed and at least 60 were injured. As per reports, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reached the accident site on June 17 evening, to take cognisance of the situation. The minister also visited the injured receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital. The collision occurred near Rangapani station, approximately seven kilometres from New Jalpaiguri, causing two rear compartments to derail.

Relief Measures

On June 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased in the railway mishap. The injured will receive Rs 50,000. President Droupadi Murmu extended her prayers to the bereaved families and wished the injured a swift recovery.

Kavach system missing

As per reports, the Kavach system was unavailable on the tracks in Darjeeling, where the two trains collided on June 17. Kavach is a made-in-India system to help prevent accidents if two trains are travelling on the same line.