Late on October 11, 2023, Bihar bore witness to a grievous train accident as the 12506 Delhi-Kamakhya North East Express derailed near Raghunathpur station in Bihar’s Buxar district. This calamitous event resulted in the loss of six lives and left nearly 100 passengers injured.
CM and Dy CM of Bihar Mobilize Resources for Relief and Recovery Efforts

Buxar: In a devastating incident late last night, Bihar’s rail network was hit by a severe accident as six coaches of the Assam-bound North East Superfast Express derailed near Raghunathpur station in Buxar district. The derailment resulted in at least six casualties and nearly 100 people injured, with several being rushed to hospitals in Ara, Buxar, and Patna, including premier medical facilities like PMCH, AIIMS, and IGIMS.

The mishap occurred around 9:35 pm, sending shockwaves through the region. According to railway sources, more than 12 bogies derailed, causing widespread disruption. Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed profound grief and promptly instructed officials to take all necessary measures to manage the situation.

The affected train, 12506 Delhi-Kamakhya North East Express, had departed from Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi and was en route to Kamakhya Junction in Assam’s Guwahati. The derailment has led to the cancellation and diversion of multiple trains. Among the canceled trains are Patna-Puri Special (03230), Sasaram-Ara Special (03620), Bhabua Road Express Special (03617), Patna-DDU Memu Pass Spl (03203), and Patna-Buxar Memu Pass Special (03375). Two trains, Patna-DDU Express (13209) and DDU-Patna Express (13210), have been partially canceled, running only up to Ara.

Rescue operations are underway, with NDRF, SDRF, district administration, railway officials, and local residents collaborating to aid the affected. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw affirmed that the rescue efforts are being conducted with utmost urgency. Meanwhile, Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has directed local authorities to make immediate arrangements for the injured and dispatch officers to the incident site.

The railways have set up emergency helpline numbers for passengers, emphasizing the need for timely information dissemination and support. As the restoration work continues, the entire region remains on high alert, grappling with the aftermath of this tragic incident.

“Previously, the elections were set for November 23.”

New Delhi : The Election Commission of India has modified the dates for the Rajasthan assembly elections, shifting them from November 23 to November 25.

In an official notification, the election panel stated that it had received requests from various political parties and social organizations to amend the poll schedule. The change was made to accommodate the substantial number of weddings and social engagements slated for November 23, which could have inconvenienced a significant portion of the population.

Prominent political figures from both major parties have expressed their approval of the decision. BJP MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who is contesting the assembly election from Jhotwara in Jaipur, welcomed the decision, stating, “This is a good thing. The Election Commission wants more voting to happen…This is a good decision…I welcome it.”

Amrita Dhawan, Rajasthan’s Congress co-incharge, commended the Election Commission’s decision, emphasizing that the postponement of the election date, which coincided with the Ekadashi festival, would increase voter turnout. She remarked, “It is good that the Election Commission has taken everything into consideration. Ekadashi is a big festival…The voting percentage will also be affected now that the date has been postponed & voters will come out (to cast their vote)…Congress will win.”

Rajasthan comprises 200 assembly constituencies, and the term of the state assembly is set to expire on January 14 next year. The Election Commission has previously announced the election schedules for other states, including Madhya Pradesh (November 17), Chhattisgarh (November 7 and 17), Mizoram (November 7), and Telangana (November 30). Vote counting will take place on December 3. These state elections are viewed as a significant precursor to the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

The Rajasthan election is primarily a head-to-head contest between the BJP and Congress, both vying for the state’s 25 Lok Sabha seats.

At present, the Congress party, led by Ashok Gehlot, governs Rajasthan. In the previous election, the Congress emerged as the single largest party, securing 100 seats. With the support of the Bahujan Samaj Party and independent MLAs, it formed the government. The BJP, on the other hand, secured 73 seats, continuing the trend of the incumbent party not retaining power. In the 2013 assembly election, the BJP had won 163 seats.

New Delhi : Two small northeastern states, Manipur and Sikkim, find themselves in the throes of disaster, both desperately seeking assistance in their time of need. Yet, the cries for help from these regions appear to have fallen on deaf ears within the central government.

In this trying period, neither the Hon’ble Prime Minister nor the Hon’ble Home Minister has taken the time to visit Sikkim and extend solace and support to its beleaguered citizens.

Adding to the distress, the financial aid offered to Sikkim, a mere Rs. 44 crore, has been seen as a source of humiliation rather than genuine assistance.

A senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister voiced these concerns, questioning when the central government would recognize its responsibility as a government that serves all states equally.

The urgent need for attention and support in these northeastern states underscores the importance of swift and equitable assistance during times of crisis.