A 38-year-old man from Khowai, Tripura, died after falling from the Kanchanjunga Express in West Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur. The victim, travelling to Kolkata for treatment, slipped near Aluberia station. Locals and railway police rushed him to hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Khowai district in Tripura has been struck by tragedy following the untimely death of a local youth in West Bengal. Swapan Namah Das, 38, a resident of the Char Ganaki area under the West Ganaki Gram Panchayat, lost his life after falling from a moving train on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred while he was on his way to Kolkata for medical treatment.
According to reports, Swapan had boarded the Kanchanjunga Express from Agartala on Tuesday, bound for the West Bengal capital. The journey appeared to be proceeding normally until the early hours of Wednesday, when the train made a scheduled stop at Aluberia station in Uttar Dinajpur district. The halt lasted for approximately 20 minutes, allowing passengers to step out for breakfast or refreshments.
Witnesses recalled that Swapan was among those who got off the train during the halt. When the train was ready to depart, he reboarded and positioned himself near the doorway of his coach. This, according to railway sources, proved to be a fatal decision.
Tragic Turn After Departure
Shortly after the Kanchanjunga Express resumed its journey from Aluberia, fellow passengers noticed Swapan was no longer in his seat. Initially, some assumed he had moved to another coach. However, after a thorough search across multiple compartments yielded no sign of him, concerned co-travelers alerted the train staff and railway police.
It was later confirmed that Swapan had slipped and fallen from the train near a railway crossing shortly after leaving Aluberia station. Local residents who witnessed the incident rushed to his aid and informed the authorities.
Efforts to Save Him Prove Futile
The railway police, along with helpful bystanders, quickly reached the spot and transported the injured man to a nearby hospital. Despite their swift action, doctors declared Swapan dead upon arrival. Preliminary reports indicate that he sustained severe head and body injuries from the fall, making survival impossible.
Shock and Mourning in Home District
News of the incident reached Swapan’s family and community in Char Ganaki later that day. Neighbors described him as a quiet and hardworking individual who had been battling health issues in recent months. His journey to Kolkata was reportedly part of a planned course of treatment.
The tragedy has sparked conversations in the community about railway safety and the risks of standing near open train doors—a common practice among passengers, especially on long-distance routes.
Railway Authorities Appeal for Caution
Railway officials have once again urged passengers to remain seated or stand away from open doors while trains are in motion. “Even experienced travelers underestimate the dangers of standing at the edge of a moving train,” a senior official commented. “One misstep can lead to irreversible loss.”
Authorities are also reviewing CCTV footage from Aluberia station to reconstruct Swapan’s movements prior to the fall. While no foul play is suspected, the investigation will determine the exact sequence of events leading to the accident.
A Grim Reminder
Swapan’s death serves as a grim reminder of how a momentary lapse in caution can turn fatal. His body will be brought back to Khowai for last rites after the completion of formal procedures in West Bengal.
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For his grieving family, what was meant to be a hopeful journey for treatment has turned into a devastating loss. In the words of one relative, “We thought he would come back healthier. We never imagined he would come back like this.”
