Recently, in a tweet, TS Tirumurti, the permanent representative of India to the United Nations, recalled a train accident that had occurred 40 years ago to the day.
He wrote on his handle, @TSTirumurti: “On this day – 31st August 1981, the train we were travelling in derailed and our compartment overturned at Sirpur-Kagaznagar.”
Tirumurti was travelling to New Delhi, together with a few other students of Vivekananda College for an inter-collegiate cultural fest by IIT-Delhi.
40 years ago: A look back at a train accident
Chennai resident Kalpakam Srinivasamurti recalls a rail accident that happened 40 years ago. Her son TS Tirumurti and a few other students of Vivekananda College were on that ill-fated train
On June 17, a train accident killed 10 people and injured over 40 near New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, about 600 km from Kolkata. The mishap was caused when a goods train hit the 13174 Down Agartala Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express in the rear at 8.55 a.m. The two trains were manually cleared to run in the same block section, a mere 15 minutes apart, since automatic signalling was malfunctioning between the Ranipatra and Chattar Hat stations which fall under the Northeast Frontier Railway.
What can the Railways do to stop accidents? | Explained
Train accident near New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal caused by human error, lack of safety measures, and systemic failures.
Eight coaches of the Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express derailed at Dibalong near Lumding in Assam’s Dima Hasao district on Thursday (October 17, 2024).
“The incident occurred at 3.55 p.m. and there has been no major casualty or injury. All passengers are safe,” posted Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on X.
Eight coaches of Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Express derail in Assam; no casualties reported
Agartala-Lokmanya Tilak Express derails in Assam, no casualties reported, eight coaches affected, Railway spokesperson confirms.
Seven elephants were killed and a calf injured when the Mizoram-New Delhi Rajdhani Express hit a herd of wild elephants in central Assam’s Hojai district early on Saturday (December 20, 2025).
The collision led to the derailment of the locomotive and five coaches of the Train no. 20507 Sairang Rajdhani Express in the Jamunamukh-Kampur section under the Lumding Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). Railway officials said no passenger was injured.
Seven elephants killed in Assam after collision with Rajdhani Express
Train derailment in Assam kills seven elephants; no passenger injuries reported, disrupting train movement and causing multiple cancellations.
Three persons were killed and 50 injured, several of them seriously, when the Guwahati-bound 55805 up Chilarai Passenger train collided with an earth excavator at an unmanned level-crossing between the Mirza and Azara stations in lower Assam’s Kamrup district on Friday morning.
The accident took place at 9.15 a.m. Nine coaches along with the engine jumped the rails in the impact, five bogies plunging into a low-level area near the track.
Three killed, 50 injured as train derails in Assam
India News:Three killed, 50 injured as train derails in Assam
The Southern Railway has ordered an inquiry into the derailment of seven goods wagons at a yard near Jolarpet Railway Station in Tirupattur.
Railway officials said that seven wagons got derailed for around 400 metres, when the train was being moved from a loop line to the main line in the yard near the railway station.
Probe launched into derailment of goods wagons at Jolarpet Railway Station
Inquiry ordered into derailment of seven goods wagons near Jolarpet Railway Station; no injuries, services restored by 12:30 a.m.
