Howrah, Kolkata, November 9, 2024 — In an early morning incident, four coaches of the Secunderabad-Shalimar Superfast Express derailed near Nalpur station in West Bengal’s Kharagpur Division, about 40 kilometers from Kolkata. South Eastern Railway confirmed that the derailment occurred around 5:31 a.m. when the train was shifting from the middle to the outer tracks. Fortunately, no casualties or serious injuries were reported.
“A parcel van and two coaches of the 22850 Secunderabad-Shalimar Weekly Express derailed while passing through Nalpur station. As per the initial reports, there have been no major injuries or casualties,” said an official statement from South Eastern Railway.
Following the incident, relief trains and medical assistance from Santragachhi and Kharagpur arrived promptly at the derailment site. In a swift response to the incident, buses were also arranged to transport stranded passengers to their intended destinations, minimizing inconvenience.
The derailment has sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with many Twitter users questioning the frequency of such train accidents. “Train accidents seem to be occurring as frequently as road mishaps. We never saw such incidents earlier,” tweeted one user, expressing frustration toward the Railway Ministry. Comments suggested that buses may need to be stationed near railway tracks in the future to assist passengers during derailments or accidents.
A Growing Pattern of Train Incidents Across India
This derailment adds to a troubling trend of train incidents that have been witnessed across India in recent months. A series of derailments have highlighted concerns over railway safety. Here are some notable cases from the past year:
- August 2, 2024 – A passenger train derailed in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, injuring 15 passengers. The incident was attributed to an axle failure.
- June 14, 2024 – In Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, two coaches of the Gorakhpur-Lokmanya Tilak Express went off the tracks. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but it disrupted services on the route.
- April 28, 2024 – A derailment occurred on the outskirts of Mumbai, where five coaches of the Nanded Express went off the tracks, causing injuries to three passengers.
- March 15, 2024 – A freight train derailed in Nagpur, Maharashtra, causing extensive delays for passenger services and raising concerns over track maintenance.
These incidents have fueled calls for more rigorous safety inspections and measures to ensure that train operations remain dependable for passengers across India.
