West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sharply criticized the central government following the derailment of the Howrah-Mumbai CSMT Mail in Jharkhand, which resulted in two deaths and over 50 injuries.
In a pointed message on social media platform X, Banerjee condemned the accident, stating, “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 expressed her frustration with the ongoing issues in railway safety, accusing the central government of negligence and inadequate governance.
The Chief Minister questioned the effectiveness of the Railway administration, highlighting what she described as a weekly pattern of tragic accidents.
“For how long shall we tolerate this? Will there be no end to the callousness of Government of India?! My heart goes out to the bereaved families, condolences to the next of kin,” she added in her post.
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.
I seriously ask: is this governance? This series of nightmares almost every week,…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 30, 2024
Banerjee has long been critical of the railway authorities’ failure to implement safety measures.
She pointed to the lack of follow-up on the installation of critical safety devices initiated during her tenure as Railway Minister.
In particular, she criticized the non-implementation of Kavach, an automatic train protection system designed to prevent such accidents.
In response to the derailment, West Bengal Police have established 13 helpline numbers across three Government Railway Police (GRP) stations in the state to assist those affected.
Five helplines are available at both the Howrah and Sealdah GRPs, and three at the Kharagpur GRP.
This move aims to provide essential support and information to the relatives of those involved in the accident and to manage the immediate fallout of the tragic event.
Also Read: West Bengal Police Launches Helpline Numbers Following Train Derailment In Jharkhand
