As many as 15 individuals have lost their lives and numerous others have been injured following a collision between a freight train and a passenger train in West Bengal, India.

The cargo train hit the Kanchanjunga Express in the Darjeeling district of the eastern state on Monday morning, reportedly due to human error. India’s densely used rail network records hundreds of accidents every year.

At least 15 bodies have been retrieved from the wrecked carriages, according to Abhishek Roy, a senior police officer in the Darjeeling district, reported by Reuters.

Roughly 30 individuals sustained injuries, and rescue teams, including police and national disaster response teams, collaborated with local doctors and residents to clear the debris from the derailed carriages, Roy added.

Three railway personnel were among the deceased, according to Sabyasachi De, spokesperson for the Northeast Frontier Railway.

Doctors, ambulances, and disaster response teams were immediately mobilized to the crash site near the New Jalpaiguri station, as announced by West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on X.

“Action on war-footing initiated,” she stated, calling the event “tragic,” but providing no immediate casualty confirmation.

TV footage displayed one train crashing into the other’s end, with a compartment lifted vertically. A large crowd had gathered, with rescuers searching for victims.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw mentioned that the injured were being transported to the hospital.

Deadly

The accident occurred after the freight train driver ignored a signal, colliding with the rear of the passenger train, according to Jaya Varma Sinha, head of the railway board overseeing the national network.

Four compartments at the rear of the passenger train derailed due to the impact, most of which were freight compartments along with one passenger coach, stated De, the railway spokesperson.

Over 12 million individuals travel on 14,000 trains across India daily, using a network stretching 64,000km (40,000 miles).

Recent years have seen significant investments in upgrading the rail network with modernized stations and electronic signaling systems. Despite these efforts, several hundred accidents occur annually, often attributed to human error or obsolete signaling equipment.

Last year, a train crash in eastern India resulted in over 280 fatalities, marking one of the deadliest rail accidents in the last few decades.

The Kanchanjunga Express, a daily service, connects West Bengal with northeastern Indian cities. It is commonly used by tourists heading to the hill station of Darjeeling, a popular destination during this season when many Indian cities endure high temperatures.