Date: July 30, 2024
Chakradharpur, Jharkhand In a tragic incident early this morning, 10 coaches of the Mumbai-Howrah Mail derailed near Chakradharpur, Jharkhand, resulting in the deaths of two passengers and injuries to 20 others. This disaster has ignited a political firestorm, with opposition parties condemning the central government and the Railway Minister for increasing rail accidents under BJP rule.
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose expressed deep sorrow over the derailment, extending condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a swift recovery for the injured.
Accident triggered a wave of criticism from various political figures
TMC’s Susmita Dev lamented the increase in rail accidents over the past decade, questioning the safety measures under Prime Minister Modi’s governance. “Why are rail accidents taking place in the country? Who will answer this? Prime Minister Modi Ji says that ‘this is Viksit Bharat’. But I believe that rail accidents in the last 10 years have increased. Who is responsible for the safety of the people?” she asked in a video statement.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore harshly criticized Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, calling him the “Minister of Railway Accidents.” Tagore highlighted the numerous rail mishaps during Vaishnaw’s term, demanding accountability and the minister’s resignation.
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also called for the Railway Minister to be held accountable, decrying the lack of action on train accidents and accusing the government of neglecting public safety for political campaigning.
SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav sarcastically remarked on the government’s record-making tendencies, criticizing the Union government’s handling of rail safety despite large budgets and safety claims.
Congress Hits Hard
The Congress party took to social media to attack the Railway Minister, highlighting a series of rail accidents in July alone and mocking the minister’s public relations efforts. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh accused Vaishnaw of overseeing three accidents that claimed 17 lives in just June and July, with no accountability from the government.
The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) also criticized the central government, urging the Railway Minister to focus on his job instead of making social media reels. JMM’s statement emphasized that the INDIA Bloc or Chief Minister Hemant Soren had no involvement in the incident, indirectly addressing potential political blame games.
Trinamool Congress leader Sagarika Ghose slammed the government over the accident, accusing the Railway Minister of being preoccupied with election management instead of ensuring train safety. She emphasized the daily suffering of citizens due to the neglect of basic safety measures.
As rescue operations continue and investigations begin, the derailment of the Mumbai-Howrah Mail stands as a grim reminder of the critical need for enhanced rail safety measures. The political outcry underscores the increasing pressure on the central government and the Railway Minister to address and mitigate rail accidents more effectively.
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