Kanchanjungha Train Accident: Opposition Demands Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's Resignation (image-X/AshwiniVaishnaw)
Since the news of the tragic collision of the Kanchanjungha express train with a goods train in West Bengal’s Darjeeling came out, calls for the resignation of recently reappointed Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw have been growing louder. The train accident has killed at least 15 people and left over 60 injured.
An increase in ex-gratia compensation has been announced for the victims of the accident. The next of kin of each deceased will be given Rs 10 lakh, while Rs 2.5 lakh will be given to those suffering from grievous injuries. For victims with minor injuries, a compensation of Rs 50,000 has been announced.
Read Also: West Bengal: Goods Train Collides With Kanchanjungha Express, At Least 15 Dead, 60 Injured
The opposition, Congress, has demanded the resignation of Vaishnaw and criticised the PM Modi-led central government for giving more attention to the Vande Bharat and ignoring the problems related to the poor condition of the Indian Railways.
While condemning the accident and wishing for a speedy recovery of those injured, senior leader of the party and Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi slammed the Modi government, saying “the increase in railway accidents in the last 10 years is a direct result of the mismanagement and negligence of the Modi government, which results in loss of lives and property of passengers on a daily basis.”
While requesting all Congress workers to extend assistance in relief efforts, Gandhi stated, “Today’s accident is another example of this reality – as a responsible opposition, we will continue to question this blatant negligence and hold the Modi government accountable for these accidents.”
पश्चिम बंगाल में कंचनजंगा एक्सप्रेस के दुर्घटनाग्रस्त होने से कई लोगों की मृत्यु का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है।
सभी शोकाकुल परिजनों को मैं अपनी गहरी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं और घायलों के शीघ्र से शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की आशा करता हूं। सरकार को सभी पीड़ितों या उनके परिवारों को तुरंत पूरा…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 17, 2024
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav tweeted, “Who is responsible for the continuous railway accidents happening in the country?”
देश में लगातार हो रहे रेल हादसों का जिम्मेवार कौन है?
— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) June 17, 2024
Several social media users also took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to demand Vaishnaw’s resignation, with the hashtag resign trending on social media.
Read Also: Andhra Pradesh Train Accident: 9 Killed And 45 Injured
One user slammed Vaishnaw and said, “Have some shame, Reel Minister. You have reduced Indian Railways to a joke. You have made a mockery of human lives. Take accountability and resign. You should not continue as the Railway Minister on moral grounds. You have destroyed Indian Railways. Just Vande Bharat Reels and propaganda won’t work.”
Have some shame, Reel Minister. You have reduced Indian Railways to a joke. You have made a mockery of human lives.
Take accountability and resign. You should not continue as the Railway Minister on moral grounds.
You have destroyed Indian Railways. Just Vande Bharat Reels and… pic.twitter.com/mLDZqCsWAK
— Sohom Banerjee (@Sohom03) June 17, 2024
Another user said, “Despite completely failed tenure, Ashwini Vaishnaw is rewarded Railway ministry again… Pathetic. He must resign now & make place for better person.”
Two trains collided 😭
Despite completely failed tenure, Ashwini Vaishnaw is rewarded Railway ministry again… Pathetic
He must resign now & make place for better person 😡#WestBengal #Darjeeling #Modi #BJP #KanchanjungaExpress
— Veena Jain (@DrJain21) June 17, 2024
Last year, in June, three trains collided in Odisha’s Balasore district. The Coromandel Express entered the passing loop instead of the main line near Bahanaga Bazar railway station at full speed and collided with a goods train. Due to its high speed, 21 coaches were derailed and three of those collided with the oncoming SMVT Bengaluru–Howrah Superfast Express on the adjacent track. In the second deadliest railway crash in India since the Firozabad rail collision, around 296 people were killed in the crash and more than 1,200 others were left injured.
