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Express Train Derails Near Jalpaiguri; Causalities Feared

As many as 12 coaches of the Bikaner-Guwahati express train derailed near Jalpaiguri in West Bengal on Thursday.

<div class="paragraphs"><p>The Bikaner-Guwahati express train sits derailed in Jalpaiguri district. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)</p></div>
The Bikaner-Guwahati express train sits derailed in Jalpaiguri district. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

As many as 12 coaches of the Bikaner-Guwahati express train derailed near Jalpaiguri in West Bengal on Thursday, raising fears of casualties.

The National Disaster Response Force rushed two teams to the site of the incident to rescue passengers feared trapped under the coaches, ANI reported.

Death toll from the accident has risen to five, with 45 others injured, PTI reported citing an unnamed official.

A high-level inquiry has been ordered by the North-East Frontier Railway, ANI quoted the railroad's chief public relations officer, Guneet Kaur, as saying. “Rescue operation is almost complete," Kaur told ANI. "Our teams have successfully rescued the affected passengers."

The Indian Railways has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh was announced to the kin of the deceased persons, ANI said. A sum of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 25,000 will be given to the severely injured and those sustaining minor injuries, respectively.

Prime Narendra Modi and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu expressed their condolences on Twitter. Modi said he has spoken to the union railway minister about the incident.

ANI quoted Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as saying that he's spoken to his West Bengal counterpart about the incident, Mamata Banerjee.