<p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">The Kolkata-Sairang Express derailed at Digaru railway station near Guwahati in Assam's Kamrup (Metro) district on the morning of 11 November 2026, disrupting rail traffic on a key corridor connecting Mizoram and eastern India . The incident involved Train No. 13125, which was travelling from Sairang in Mizoram towards Kolkata when the locomotive and five coaches went off the tracks at around 6:54 AM .</span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">According to the Northeast Frontier Railway's initial statement, the derailment occurred while the train was being received at Digaru station to give precedence to another train. "The Loco Pilot could not control the speed, resulting in an unfortunate incident of derailment, in which the locomotive along with 5 coaches derailed," the NFR said . NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma initially stated that no casualties had been reported, though he noted that six coaches had derailed . The discrepancy between five and six coaches in different official statements reflects the confusion that often accompanies the immediate aftermath of such incidents.</span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma provided a more detailed account of the human impact. In a post on X, he confirmed that "4 sustained minor injuries and are receiving care," while all passengers were safe . He added that the state government was working closely with the Ministry of Railways, and that "all stranded passengers have been provided with basic necessities and alternative travel train has been arranged for the journey" . Injured passengers were taken to Sonapur District Hospital and a primary health centre for treatment, with reports indicating that at least one passenger may have suffered a fracture and chest injuries .</span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">Passenger accounts described scenes of alarm and confusion. One passenger travelling from Kolkata to Hojai told reporters that there was fire near the front portion of the train and that the rails had been hit. "Despite this, the driver was reportedly instructed to continue running the train and was assured that nothing would happen," the passenger said, alleging that the train encountered problems before the derailment . The passenger added that several passengers, including children, were injured, and that the children were somehow rescued from the coaches . These accounts have not been independently verified, and railway authorities have not confirmed the allegation about instructions to continue running the train.</span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">A video that surfaced after the incident reportedly captured the loco pilot saying that the brake systems were not working. According to News18, a pre-incident video accessed by CNN-News18 shows the pilot saying "kuchh kaam nahi kar raha" (nothing is working), referring to the SA9 and A9 brake systems . The NFR's official statement attributed the derailment to the loco pilot's inability to control the speed, but it did not specifically address the brake failure claim. The railway's investigation will need to determine whether the incident was caused by human error, mechanical failure, or a combination of factors.</span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">The operational consequences of the derailment extended beyond the affected train. Following the incident, Train No. 12067 Guwahati-Jorhat Town Jan Shatabdi Express was controlled at Panbari, while Train No. 15627 Coimbatore-Silchar Express was regulated at Panikhaiti . Both lines were impacted by the derailment, and a recovery train was rushed to the spot for rescue operations and clearing the tracks . The NFR General Manager, along with other senior officials, proceeded to the site to oversee the response .</span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">For the passengers from West Bengal, the incident prompted a coordinated response from the Eastern Railway. More than 300 passengers from West Bengal were on board the train, covering stations like Kolkata, Naihati, Krishnanagar, and the Malda and Katihar divisions . Helpdesks were set up at Sealdah, Alipurduar, Naihati, and Berhampore Court stations to assist passengers and their families, and Eastern Railway officials rushed to the accident site . This cross-zonal coordination reflects the inter-regional nature of the route, which connects West Bengal with the Northeast and carries a significant volume of passengers travelling for work, family, and trade.</span></p><p class="ds-markdown-paragraph" style="margin: 16px 0px; color: rgb(15, 17, 21); font-family: quote-cjk-patch, Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="">The Kolkata-Sairang Express provides an important rail link between Mizoram and eastern India, and the derailment is likely to draw attention to railway safety and infrastructure in the strategically important Northeast region . The route passes through terrain that is challenging for rail operations, and incidents on this corridor can have outsized effects on connectivity for states that depend on rail for passenger and goods movement. For now, the immediate priority is the recovery of the affected track and the safe onward journey of the stranded passengers, while the railway's investigation will determine the cause of the derailment and whether any systemic issues need to be addressed.</span></p>