All 300 passengers from Bengal travelling on the Sairang Express were reported safe after the train derailed near Digaru station on the outskirts of Guwahati, prompting anxious relatives to seek information at Sealdah and Kolkata stations on Wednesday.
Eastern Railway set up special help desks at both stations to assist families and provide information about passengers and train services to northeast India. Railway officials said passengers affected by the derailment were moved towards their destinations on an alternative train.
The Sairang Express had left Kolkata station at about 10.45am on Tuesday on a route of nearly 1,500km through Naihati, Krishnagar, Berhampore Court, Murshidabad, Malda, New Jalpaiguri and New Cooch Behar before travelling onwards towards Assam and Mizoram. Several passengers from Bengal were based in Kolkata and were travelling home for Chhath Puja, according to railway officials.
A senior Eastern Railway official said no casualties had been reported. “The passengers were travelling beyond Guwahati for Chhath Puja. No casualty was reported. To assist the families of the passengers travelling in the train, we set up help desks. Passengers were taken to their destinations on an alternative train,” the official said.
The official added that the reason for the derailment was being investigated by the Commission of Railway Safety. The train had been checked before leaving Kolkata, but “some technical problem may have developed later”, the official said. The statement did not identify the specific cause of the incident.
The help desks at Sealdah and Kolkata stations became the main point of contact for relatives who could not immediately reach passengers. Amit Mishra, a Beliaghata resident, said he went to Sealdah after being unable to contact a colleague travelling on the train. Staff at the desk later confirmed that the passenger was safe and had boarded an alternative train to reach Badarpur in Assam.
Passengers described a sudden and violent disruption after the train passed Guwahati. Pintu Sarkar, a pantry car employee, said passengers were thrown from their seats and that the compartment later tilted, scattering items stored in the pantry. Another passenger said the train continued moving for about 10 minutes after the loud impact before stopping, while some passengers were initially unable to open the doors.
Several passengers also used social media to mark themselves safe after the derailment. The Commission of Railway Safety’s investigation is expected to establish how the derailment occurred and whether any technical failure contributed to the incident. Eastern Railway’s immediate response remains focused on passenger assistance and completing onward journeys through alternative arrangements.
