The engine and six coaches of the Sairang-Kolkata Express went off the tracks near Digaru railway station on the outskirts of Guwahati on Wednesday morning. Several passengers were injured, officials said. The accident has triggered a large-scale rescue and track-clearing operation by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
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What Happened at Digaru
The train was travelling from Sairang, near Aizawl in Mizoram, to Kolkata when it derailed near Digaru station in Kamrup (Metropolitan) district at around 6.54 am. According to NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, the train was being received at Digaru station to give precedence to another train when the incident occurred.
Injuries and Casualties
An official said several passengers were reported injured, but the exact number and the cause of the derailment are yet to be ascertained. Railway officials said no casualties had been reported until now. Officials have not yet given details of the injuries or where the injured are being treated.
Rescue and Recovery Operations
A recovery train has been rushed to the spot for rescue operations and to clear the tracks. Railway staff and emergency teams are working at the site to attend to affected passengers and to remove the derailed coaches and engine from the line.
Cause Under Investigation
The cause of the derailment remains unknown, and a detailed inquiry is expected. Officials have not yet said how the accident will affect other train services on the route. Updates are expected from NFR as the rescue work progresses.
Why the Digaru Derailment Matters
Digaru lies on a busy stretch near Guwahati, the gateway to the Northeast. Trains connecting Mizoram and Assam with Kolkata and the rest of the country pass through this corridor. The Sairang-Kolkata Express links Mizoram’s capital region with eastern India, so the accident will worry many families and daily travellers in the region.