In Modi's new India, there is no...: Oppn on rail accidents

The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after the train derailment in Jharkhand, saying since June the "Fail Minister" has "overseen three accidents" that have cumulatively cost 17 lives but there is "no accountability" in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new India.

Two persons were killed and 20 others injured as at least 18 coaches of the Howrah-Mumbai Mail derailed in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharsawan district early on Tuesday, officials said.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X, "Yet another railway accident. But the PR machine of the Fail Minister continues."

"In June and July 2024 alone, the Fail Minister has overseen three accidents that have cumulatively cost 17 Indians their lives and left 100s injured," he said, hitting out at Vaishnaw.

Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "Train Accidents: A Weekly Reality in Modi's New India."

"July 18: Train accident in Gonda, UP: Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express: 4 killed, 31 injured. July 19: Goods train derailed in Valsad, Gujarat. July 20: 12 wagons of a freight train derailed in Amroha, UP. July 21: 3 wagons of a goods train derailed in Alwar, Rajasthan. July 21: Goods train derailed in Ranaghat, West Bengal. July 26: Goods train derailed at Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Orissa. July 29: Bihar Sampark Kranti Express detached from other coaches in Samastipur, Bihar. July 30: Several coaches of the Howrah-CSMT Express train derailed in Chakradharpur, Jharkhand: 2 killed, 20 injured," he said.

In the usual aftermath, Vaishnaw would visit the site with his PR team by evening and will upload a reel by tomorrow, Khera said, taking a dig at the Railway Minister.

"In Modi's new India, there is no accountability, no resignations, only grandiose talks about irrelevant rail projects that no one uses," he said.

"Two persons were killed and 20 injured as 18 coaches of Howrah-Mumbai Mail derailed near Barabamboo. Rescue operations are on and an NDRF team is rushing to the spot," West Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Kuldeep Chaudhary, who is camping at the accident site, told PTI.

He claimed that the Howrah-Mumbai train hit a stationary goods train.

The accident site is near the border between West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren directed officials concerned to expedite relief operations and help the injured people.

The Trinamool Congress also criticised the series of train accidents across the country, labeling them as the "new normal" under the BJP government at the Centre, and accused the railway ministry of zero accountability.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wondered whether there will be no end to Centre's callouseness.

In a social media post, Banerjee wondered whether this is governance as the train accidents have become a regular affair.

"Another disastrous rail accident! Howrah- Mumbai mail derails in Chakradharpur division in Jharkhand today early morning, multiple deaths and huge number of injuries are the tragic consequences, " She posted on X.

"I seriously ask: is this governance? This series of nightmares almost every week, this unending procession of deaths and injuries on railway tracks: for how long shall we tolerate this? Will there be no end to the callousness of Government of India?" she added.

"This is becoming the new normal. Accountability of @AshwiniVaishnaw ji is zero. The GOI has no answers whatsoever," senior TMC leader and MP Sushmita Dev posted on X.

Echoing her, party colleague and MP Sagarika Ghose wondered how many more train accidents shall it take for the Centre to wake up from its slumber.

"How many more train accidents shall it take for the Modi government to wake up from its slumber? People are suffering, people are being put through hardships and misery while the Modi government continues to escape accountability and responsibility for rail safety. We have a part-time rail minister as Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is too busy looking after election management in poll-bound states to bother too much with the railway ministry," she said.