'Railways totally parentless': Mamata alleges Centre keen on only increasing fares

Alleging that the railways have become "totally parentless", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that it was only keen on increasing fares and not improving passenger amenities.

Banerjee visited the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri and met the victims of the train accident near Rangapani, and directed the district administration to extend every possible assistance to them.

"The railways have become totally parentless. Though the ministry is there, the old glory is missing. Only beautification is being done, but they do not care about passenger amenities. They are only keen on hiking fares," she told reporters at the Kolkata airport on the way to Siliguri.

"You will only see them talk big. They also do not take care of the railway officers, technical, safety, and security personnel. I am with the railway employees and officers," she added.

She criticised the Railway Ministry, alleging that it was not implementing the anti-collision system properly, which could reduce the impact of such accidents.

"The number of train accidents has gone up. Accidents are not in anyone's control, this is a fact. But, the railways is not implementing the anti-collision system properly," she said.

Banerjee also expressed her "disgust" over not being able to get a flight ticket from Kolkata to Siliguri, stating she wanted to travel much earlier.

"I have been trying for a flight to reach northern Bengal since morning but could not manage one. I did not know about the pathetic condition of flights," she said.

Governor CV Ananda Bose, who also visited the hospital, said priority should be given to treating the victims and not playing a "blame game".

The accident happened at Rangapani near the New Jalpaiguri station as a goods train rammed into the Agartala-Sealdah Kanchanjunga Express from the rear, leaving several people dead.

Meanwhile, the TMC demanded the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

"Yet ANOTHER train accident. Citizens are paying with their lives for the failures of Modi's ministers. Still promising Bullet Trains and other fantasies while failing to ensure basic safety for rail passengers. Too many are losing their lives, enough is enough. Rail minister Ashwini Vaishnaw needs to put in his papers," TMC MP Sagarika Ghose posted on X.

Referring to the train accident in Balasore, TMC MP Mahua Moitra claimed that the country doesn't need bullet trains but safe travel for its people.

"Balasore in June 2023 & now New Jalpaiguri in June 2024- rail accidents now annual event thanks to incompetence of Ashwini Vaishnaw. We don't need bullet trains. We need safe travel for our people. Shame!" she posted on X.

State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said it was not the time for politics but to ensure the proper treatment of those injured in the accident.

BJP's Darjeeling MP Raju Bista thanked the staff of the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital who were treating the injured.