Six coaches of the Kolkata-Sairang Express came off the tracks near Guwahati on Wednesday morning, injuring four passengers and disrupting rail services across Assam. No deaths were reported in the accident, which took place at Digaru railway station at around 6.54 am on 11 November 2026.

The train, No. 13125, was travelling from Kolkata's Chitpur station towards Sairang in Mizoram, near the state capital Aizawl, when the derailment happened. Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said the locomotive and several coaches left the tracks while the train was being received at Digaru station so that another train could pass first.

Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, the chief public relations officer of Northeast Frontier Railway, told the news agency ANI that there had been no casualties. "Six coaches of the Kolkata-Sairang express have derailed at Digaru railway station at around 6:54 am today. So far, no casualties have been reported. Our senior officials have rushed to the spot," he said.

Conflicting early reports on injuries

Early reports from the scene differed on how many people had been hurt and how many coaches had derailed, with counts ranging from five coaches plus the engine to six coaches plus the engine. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said four passengers had sustained minor injuries and were receiving care. "All passengers are safe. Four sustained minor injuries and are receiving care. We're working closely with @RailMinIndia on this situation," he posted on X.

Later reporting by The Assam Tribune said eight passengers had suffered minor injuries, were taken to Sonapur District Hospital and were discharged after first aid. The group included a seven-year-old child. Northeast Frontier Railway said all passengers were safe and that no one had been killed.

Brake failure claims under scrutiny

According to Northeast Frontier Railway, the loco pilot was unable to control the train's speed as it was brought into Digaru station, and that failure led to the derailment. A video said to have been recorded inside the locomotive cab has circulated since the accident, in which the driver can reportedly be heard saying that the signal was red and the emergency brake was not working. Northeast Frontier Railway has not commented on the video, and the exact cause of the derailment has not yet been established.

Crew members described a frightening ride after the coaches left the rails. The train continued travelling for nearly a kilometre in its derailed state, according to the pantry car manager, who said he fell from his seat three times as the coaches juddered along the track. A detailed inquiry is expected to establish the sequence of events.

Services disrupted across the region

Relief and rescue operations began immediately after the accident. NFR General Manager Vivek Khare travelled to the site with other senior officials, and a recovery train was sent to help clear the affected tracks. Stranded passengers were given basic necessities and an alternative train was arranged to carry them on to their destinations.

Other services were held up while the line was blocked. The Guwahati-Jorhat Town Jan Shatabdi Express was regulated at Panbari, while the Coimbatore-Silchar Express was held at Panikhaiti. Train services through Digaru later resumed.

A lifeline for the Northeast

The Kolkata-Sairang route is one of the key rail links connecting Mizoram with the rest of India, serving passengers travelling between the hill state and West Bengal. More than 300 passengers were reported to be aboard the train when it derailed. The accident will renew attention on operating procedures at stations where trains are held to give precedence to other services, and on the maintenance of braking systems on long-distance trains in the region.