New Delhi, June 17: Seven passengers and two railway staffers were killed and 41 more injured in the Kanchanjunga Express accident in West Bengal's Darjeeling district on Monday, according to figures released by the railway ministry. In a statement, the ministry said nine people suffered grievous injuries and 32 simple or minor injuries.

The "Up line" has been cleared and train operations have started, it said and added that "the 'Down line' will also be cleared shortly". The Kanchanjunga express, going to Sealdah in West Bengal from Agartala in Tripura, was on the "Down line" and a goods train rammed into it from behind near the New Jalpaiguri station, around 600 km from Kolkata. Kanchanjungha Express Train Accident: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Visits Train Collision Site Near New Jalpaiguri Station at Rangapani in West Bengal (Watch Video).

According to initial ground reports based on the statements of the local police, 15 people were said to have lost their lives in the accident. However, the ministry clarified that the number of deaths is nine, so far. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reached the accident site in the afternoon, the ministry said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)