Train Accident Today: Four people died and around 30 were injured after 23 coaches of the Kamakhya Junction-bound 12506 North East Express derailed near Raghunathpur railway station in Bihar’s Buxar district on Wednesday evening.

An official said that the incident took place close to Raghunathpur station near Buxar around 9.35 pm. The train, which started from Anand Vihar Terminus in Delhi, was on its way to Kamakhya near Guwahati in Assam.

Also Read: Bihar train accident: 6 coaches of Delhi-Kamakhya North East Express derails in Buxar

All three leading hospitals of Patna – Patna Medical College and Hospital, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital and Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences – have been put on alert to deal with the emergency. After the incident was reported, over a dozen ambulances were sent to the spot from the state capital, Indian Express reported.

Also Read: Bihar train accident: Indian Railways launches full-scale effort to restore Delhi-Howrah main line after tragic train derailment

While speaking to Financial Express, Birendra Kumar, Chief Public Relations Officer, East Central Railway, said, “Four passengers have been killed. Five passengers have been severely injured. The Railways have announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the kin of the victims who have lost their lives. Rs 50,000 aid has been announced for the injured.”

Bihar Deputy CM and Health Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said, “We have spoken to disaster management and health departments and Buxar administration to intensify rescue operations. We have readied Patna hospitals to treat the injured.”

Also Read: Bihar train accident: Indian Railways regulates train operation due to derailment of ANVT-Kamakhya North East Express – Check full list here

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s office also said that they are “closely monitoring the unfortunate derailment” of the train in Raghunathpur.

They added that they are in touch with the district authorities in Buxar and other agencies.

The incident comes a little over four months after the triple train accident in Odisha’s Balasore, which claimed 296 lives. That accident took place near the Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Balasore district when the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express rammed into a stationary freight train, and some of its derailed coaches were hit minutes later by the Yeshvantpur Express on its way to Howrah.