Helpline Numbers

Railways have released Helplines numbers for getting updates on the train accident at various places.

Patna 0612-2213234

Bhagalpur  0641-2303410

Rangia: 03621- 244353 

New Bongaigaon: 09957554456

Location of Accident

Karanpura railway station  which is about 25 km from Sahibganj in Jharkhand. It comes under Malda Railway Division.

Reason of Accident

The accident occurred at 5.50 AM when the train was on its way to New Delhi from Dibrugarh. Brahmaputra Mail was passing through Karonpuroto when a stationary goods train parked on the main line started rolling back. So while it was rolling back, it hit the Brahmaputra Mail.One Sleeper bogie of the Brahmaputra Mail got derailed

Relief Operations

Relief train has reached the accident site and a special train from Howrah station has also left for the accident site. All the injured have been shifted to the hospital

Compensation to Victims

Railways has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for those killed and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured. Passengers, who have received simple injuries, will get a compensation of Rs 10,000.

There are over 24 such Muslim artisans in Sultanganj in Bhagalpur district, about 200 km from state capital Patna. And Hindu Kanwariya pilgrims readily buy their ‘kanwars’ to fetch holy water from the Ganges river.

Mohammad Kalam is a name to reckon with among all these artisans. He has been doing this for nearly three decades.

“We eagerly wait for the arrival of the month of Shravan (July-August) for making kanwars of different designs and to display them as art pieces to woo Hindu devotees,” Kalam said.

Even as these Muslim artisans are busy observing fasts during the ongoing holy month of Ramzan and are offering prayers, they are very much doing their job. Hundreds of “Hindu brothers and sisters” from Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, New Delhi and Bangalore visit Kalam’s shop for kanwars.

Kanwars are wooden carriers fitted with metal or plastic water pots. The Shiva pilgrims, in their month-long Kanwar Yatra, carry poles across their shoulders hanging the pots in these kanwars.

Kanwariya pilgrims in Bihar collect Ganges water from the river in Sultanganj. They carry and store this holy water in kanwars and cover 105 km on foot to reach a temple in Deoghar in Jharkhand. They then offer water to the Shivlinga at the ancient temple.

Kalam makes kanwars only during the season of the pilgrimage. On other days, he runs a small shoe shop or works as a labourer for his livelihood.

“I down the shutters of my leather shop during Shravan month for making kanwars. It is a passion to make decorative kanwars for Hindu devotees,” Kalam told IANS.

Kalam’s brother Mohammad Salam does odd jobs throughout the year but he too crafts kanwars during the season.

“We are proud of making kanwars. Much more than the money we earn, it fetches us love and respect,” Salam said.

He said that Hindu devotees prefer to use kanwars made by Muslim artisans for its quality and durability. “It is a matter of honour for us that Hindu devotees use kanwars made by Muslim artisans for performing rituals to please Lord Shiva,” he said.

Another Muslim artisan, Shaukat Alam, has the knack for making a wide variety of kanwars. The prices vary according to the quality of the items used.

“Kanwars with new decorative styles and designs and less weight are priced higher,” Alam said.

Ashok Singh, a devotee here, said he has been purchasing his kanwar from Kalam for years. “It is most comfortable to use the kanwar made by Kalam,” he said.

Shankar Yadav, another Hindu devotee from here, loves to purchase his kanwar from Muslim artisans. “Kanwars made by Muslim artisans are more attractive and of good quality. I simply go for their kanwar,” Yadav said.

“They may be Muslims but it has never stopped me from using kanwars made by them,” Yadav told

Salam said he does not make kanwars for a livelihood. He said, “It is a labour of love.”