A major train derailment in Jharkhand early Tuesday morning claimed two lives and injured 20 others, disrupting several rail operations in the region. The incident occurred at 3:45 AM near Barabamboo, approximately 80 kilometers from Jamshedpur, under the Chakradharpur Division of the South Eastern Railway (SER). The Howrah-Mumbai Mail, carrying 18 coaches, derailed, leading to the cancellation of five trains and the temporary termination of four others.
The South Eastern Railway announced the cancellation of the following trains: 1) 22861 Howrah-Titlagarh-Kantabanji Express, 2) 08015/18019 Kharagpur-Jhargram-Dhanbad Express, 3) 12021/12022 Howrah-Barbil-Howrah Jan Shatabdi Express, 4) 18109 Tatanagar-Itwari Express, and 5) 18030 Shalimar-LLT Express. Additionally, four trains were temporarily terminated: 1) 18114 Bilaspur-Tatanagar Express, 2) 18190 Ernakulam-Tatanagar Express, 3) 18011 Howrah-Charkradharpur Express, and 4) 18110 Itwari-Tatanagar Express.
Authorities, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), are actively engaged in rescue operations at the accident site. The West Singhbhum District Collector, Kuldeep Chaudhary, confirmed the casualties and stated that two people lost their lives and 20 others sustained injuries. He is overseeing the rescue efforts at the accident location.
The South Eastern Railway has released helpline numbers for passengers affected by the derailment. For Mumbai, the helpline number is 022-22694040, for Bhusawal it is 08799982712, for Nagpur it is 7757912790, for Tata it is 0657-2290324, for Chakradharpur it is 06587-238072, for Rourkela it is 0661-2501072 and 0661-2500244, for Jharsuguda it is 06645-272530, for Howrah it is 9433357920 and 033-26382217, for Shalimar it is 7595074427 and 6295531471, and for Kharagpur it is 03222-293764.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the BJP-led central government for the accident, calling it a “disastrous rail accident.” She expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased and asked how long the public will tolerate the “callousness of the Government of India.”
