The locomotive and five passenger coaches of the Kolkata-Sairang Express (Train No. 13125) jumped the tracks while entering Digaru railway station in Assam’s Kamrup (Metro) district on Wednesday.
Fortunately, no casualties or serious injuries were reported among the passengers, according to the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
The derailment took place around 6:54 AM as the train was being routed into Digaru station—located on the outskirts of Guwahati—to give precedence to another train on the main line.
Initial findings released by the railway authorities indicated that the locomotive pilot was unable to control the train’s speed while entering the station premises, leading to the engine and subsequent coaches slipping off the rails.
Immediate Rescue and Relief Operations
Northeast Frontier Railway swiftly mobilised emergency teams to the accident site. Senior officials, including the NFR General Manager and Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, rushed to the spot to oversee relief measures and track clearance efforts.
“All passengers are safe, and no injuries have been reported,” CPRO Kapinjal Kishore Sharma confirmed over the phone. “Alternative transport arrangements were made immediately to take stranded passengers to their respective destinations, while restoration work on the track is currently underway.”
Eyewitness Accounts & Local Concerns
The derailment caused significant panic among residents living near the railway line. A local resident, who was out for a morning walk around 500 meters from Digaru station, described reaching the site shortly after hearing a loud commotion.
“I saw the engine and six derailed coaches resting dangerously close to residential structures,” the resident stated. “There are several houses nearby, and it is a pure miracle that no one on the ground or inside the train was harmed.”
Local villagers also noted unconfirmed chatter regarding potential brake failure before the train approached the loop line. Expressing concern over safety measures, residents demanded a thorough inquiry into the mechanical condition of the train and strict accountability for anyone found negligent.
Investigation Launched
While mechanical failure—including possible brake issues—remains a subject of local speculation, railway authorities have not confirmed any specific cause beyond the initial speed regulation issue during loop reception. High-level inquiries have been ordered to evaluate signal logs, speed records, and braking data to pinpoint the precise reason behind the derailment.
Further updates on track restoration schedules and train diversions along the NFR network are expected as recovery operations continue.
