'I Survived the Guwahati-Bikaner Train Derailment, Here's What I Saw'

When the train reached near Maynagiri it suddenly started moving at an unexpectedly higher speed that I got baffled

Survivor of Guwahati-Bikaner train derailment recounts his horrific experience. 

(Picture: Altered by The Quint)

Video Producer: Maaz Hasan
Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
Video Input: Koushik Das, Ayan Dawn

I was travelling from Jaipur to Cooch Behar. I had a ticket to travel on 12 January by the Guwahati-Bikaner Express, which derailed in North Bengal's Jalpaiguri district on 13 January. I had travelled till Jalpaiguri safely.

However, when the train approached Maynaguri, it suddenly started moving at an unexpectedly higher speed. This baffled me and I went towards the gate with my luggage. I was holding onto the gate tightly. All I could see was darkness. As soon as I tried to come back inside, the train derailed.

After a while, when the train stopped, I recovered my senses and saw that my right hand was broken. Somehow, with extreme pain and difficulty, I got up with the support of my left arm. I came out of the train and started walking on the roof of the train without a clue what to do next.

After a moment, a person came and helped me to get to the nearby hospital. Later, I was transferred to Jalpaiguri hospital.

News channels later informed me that a total of nine passengers had lost their lives, leaving another 36 injured.

My relatives and I are safe now, but I received severe injuries on my right hand.

My hand will be operated upon soon. I am feeling better now and the pain is less. I will hopefully be discharged in a week.

The Indian Railways has announced that they will conduct an inquiry to find out the reasons behind the accident.

I was really unable to understand how the train got derailed. All I remember is it happened between 3:30-4:00 pm.

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