A tragic accident claimed the lives of four Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district as they were travelling to attend a political rally addressed by Narendra Modi in Ranaghat, officials confirmed. The incident occurred in the early hours amid dense fog and extremely poor visibility, turning a routine journey into a devastating loss for the local party unit and the families involved.
The accident took place between Taherpur and Badkulla railway stations on the Sealdah–Krishnanagar section of the Eastern Railway network. The deceased were identified as Ramprasad Ghosh (72), Muktipada Sutradhar (63), Gopinath Das (38), and Bhairav Ghosh. All four were residents of Murshidabad and active BJP supporters who had set out to attend the Prime Minister’s rally.
According to officials, the group had travelled by bus from the Barwan block of Murshidabad on Friday night. In the early hours of Saturday morning, they reportedly stopped near the railway tracks to relieve themselves. At that time, thick fog had severely reduced visibility. Trains approaching from either direction struck the group, leaving three people dead at the spot. The fourth victim succumbed to his injuries while being transported to Kolkata for medical treatment.
An Eastern Railway official told PTI that two other individuals were injured in the incident and were admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment, while another person who sustained minor injuries was discharged after receiving first aid. The official noted that the heavy fog in the area played a major role, as the victims were unable to see or hear the approaching train in time to move away from the tracks.
The sudden deaths have plunged the victims’ village and the surrounding areas into deep mourning. Family members and neighbours were seen grappling with shock and grief, as they waited for the bodies to be returned following post-mortem examinations. The families have appealed to the local administration for support and assistance in coping with the tragedy.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his condolences to the bereaved families during his address to the rally. Due to dense fog and poor visibility, his helicopter was unable to land at Taherpur, forcing him to address the gathering virtually from Kolkata airport instead.
“I have come to know that some BJP workers, while travelling to attend this rally, lost their lives in a rail accident. My heartfelt condolences are with the families who have lost their loved ones, and I pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured,” Modi said in his message.
The incident cast a sombre shadow over the political event, with BJP workers and supporters mourning the loss of their colleagues even as the rally proceeded. The tragedy underscored the risks posed by severe weather conditions and brought a moment of collective grief to what was meant to be a day of political mobilisation.
