Kolkata, September 10
The tragic train accident which has taken a toll of over 100 lives, has cast a pall of gloom in Bengal as many of the victims are from the state.
The accident shocked not only the families of the victims, but also common people. Government officials, leaders of various political parties and people from different walks of life expressed sorrow over the mishap and criticised the railway administration for inadequate safety and security arrangements.
The Public Accounts Committee, (PAC) headed by Mr Buta Singh, MP, which was to meet Eastern Railway officers at Faire Place this morning, also raised the issue. The meeting was, however, cancelled to facilitate the general manager and other senior officials to rush to the place of accident with relief and rescue teams. Some members of the PAC also accompanied the general manager in a special train.
Mr Buta Singh said when the Railways should have spent maximum fund on the safety measures, the Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, was setting up new railway zones to further some political interests. He alleged that the proposal for setting up of a new zone at Hajipur by bifurcating the Eastern railway was never referred to the PAC.
Chief Minister, Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, who expressed condolences to the victims’ families, assured the Railways of all help and assistance in the relief and rescue operations. The state Cabinet at a brief meeting condoled the death of the passengers.
The Chief Minister said he had already sent a team of doctors and another team of civil defence personnel led by the state Civil Defence Minister, Mr Srikumar Banerjee, for Gaya. The state Transport Minister, Mr Subhas Chakraborty, was also detailed at Howrah Station to supervise the medical arrangements for the injured passengers, who are coming to Kolkata by the special train from the accident spot. Arrangements had also been made to take the bodies to their families based at different places in the state, he added.
Ms Mamata Banerjee wanted to go to the accident place in the morning by the special train, which was to leave Howrah at 9 a.m., but since the train was delayed till 12 noon, she returned disappointed. She criticised the Railways for misleading and harassing relatives of the passengers of the ill-fated train, who had to wait for hours together at Howrah Station to have information about their relatives and friends.
Both Ms Banerjee and Congress leader, Somen Mitra demanded Mr Nitish Kumar’s resignation. The CPM leadership also criticised Mr Nitish Kumar for
misusing money in setting up new railway zones when the foremost need was to improve the passengers’ safety and security.
