Kolkata (PTI): The ordeal of the passengers of the ill-fated Kanchanjunga Express, which was hit by a goods train near New Jalpaiguri leaving nine people dead and several others injured, ended early Tuesday morning when the undamaged coaches of the train reached its destination Sealdah station, an Eastern Railway official said.

At least four coaches in the rear of the train were severely damaged in the collision at Rangapani, about 10 kilometres from New Jalpaiguri station, on a rain-soaked Monday morning in north Bengal.

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, West Bengal Transport minister Snehasis Chakraborty and Divisional Railway Manager of Sealdah division Deepak Nigam were present at the station to ensure smooth dispersal of the passengers and onward movement to their homes, an official said.

The 13174 Kanchanjunga Express from Tripura capital Agartala, scheduled to reach Sealdah at 7.20 pm on Monday, arrived at its destination eight hours behind schedule at 3.16 am, the ER official said.

The hapless passengers, who went through the ordeal and horror of the accident, were provided with medical facilities, food and water at various stations, including Malda town and also at Sealdah during the journey, he said.

The state's transport department provided buses and small vehicles to the passengers at Sealdah station to ensure that they reach their homes smoothly, a state government official said.

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Hyderabad (PTI): A day after the Telangana High Court refused to grant interim relief to Bandi Bageerath, who has been booked under a POCSO case, his father and Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Saturday said he has asked his son to appear before the police and join the probe.

In a statement, Bandi Sanjay said he had asked his son to cooperate with the police soon after the complaint was registered last week.

However, Bageerath, who has been repeatedly maintaining that he has done no wrongdoing, presented evidence in his favour to his lawyers, the union minister said.

According to Bandi Sanjay, the lawyers opined that the case would be quashed and that Bageerath would get bail, which led to the delay.