New Delhi

Three passengers died and 20 others were injured when several bogies of the Guwahati-Bikaner Express (15633) derailed in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district on Thursday.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has rushed two teams to rescue passengers trapped in the derailed bogies.

The incident took place near Domohani in West Bengal in the evening. Soon after, NDRF Director General Atul Karwal directed the dispatch of two teams to rescue people.

"Two NDRF's have been dispatched and will reach shortly,"Karwal said.

Some estimates suggest that as many as 12 coaches suffered damage when the derailment took place.

Indian Railways confirmed three deaths and injuries to 20 people in the accident. It said that the injured have been taken to Jalpaigudi District Hospital and New Moinagudi district hospital.

The train that originated in Bikaner in Rajasthan was heading to Guwahati in Assam via Patna when the accident took place near Domohani in Jalpaiguri around 5 pm on Thursday.

Over 1,000 passengers were on board, including 308 who boarded the train from Bikaner.

"There was a sudden jerk and then several bogies derailed," a passenger said.