On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, the North-East Express train, bound for Assam state from New Delhi, derailed near the Raghunathpur railroad station located in the Buxar district of Bihar state, India.
The accident claimed the lives of four people and injured an additional 70. Police officer Manish Kumar confirmed that ambulances and medical teams reached the scene swiftly after the accident. He further mentioned that the local hospitals were notified to anticipate injured passengers.
D.K. Pathak, a railroad official and passenger on the train, indicated that most injuries came from a single coach, though a total of six coaches derailed. The precise reason behind the derailment is yet to be determined, but initial assessments suggest potential track issues.
In response to the accident, a relief train was dispatched from Danapur to help the affected passengers continue their journey. Compensation has been promised by Indian Railways for those affected by the accident.
It’s noteworthy to mention that this is not an isolated incident. A train accident in June 2022, resulting from a signal system failure, had claimed over 230 lives and injured 900. Such occurrences have raised questions about the safety standards of India’s railway system.