Odisha train accident: Mamata Banerjee and Ashwini Vaishnaw face-off over death toll

| Minati Singha | TNN | Jun 3, 2023, 22:16 IST

There was a clear difference of opinion among the two leaders o... Read More

BHUBANESWAR: In a show of a public disagreement, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw were engaged in a verbal duel at the triple train accident site at Bahanaga in Odisha's Balasore on Saturday.

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There was a clear difference of opinion among the two leaders on the number of casualties in the accident and also on the transportation services provided to stranded passengers.

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After visiting the accident site when Mamata Banerjee was addressing the media when she said, the death toll in the accident might exceed 500. The railway minister who was standing near her immediately opposed her and said the death toll is 233.

Banerjee nodding her head in denial said bodies are yet to be removed from three more bogies following which the toll is likely to cross 500.

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Reiterating his claim Vaishnaw said, the rescue work has already been completed and the toll is 233.

00:43

Now is not the time to do politics: Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Odisha train tragedy

As per latest official figures, the toll in the train tragedy has increased to 288, while more than 1,000 are injured.

Further the CM said, hundreds of passengers were stranded in different stations like Soro and Balasore. Interrupting her, Vaishnaw said, shuttlers have been operating between Soro and Balasore station carrying passengers and no passengers are stranded in the station.

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Deadliest train accidents in history of Indian Railways

Over 260 people died and around 900 were injured in a deadliest three-train collision which took place on Friday evening, in Odisha's Balasore. The country has witnessed several tragic train accidents before also that have resulted in significant loss of life.

On August 20, 1995, Purushottam Express collided with Kalindi Express near Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh. The accident claimed the lives of around 358 people.

On August 2, 1999, Brahmaputra Mail collided with the Awadh-Assam Express near Gaisal in Assam. The accident resulted in the deaths of approximately 290 people.

The train tragedy took place on November 26, 1998 when Jammu Tawi-Sealdah Express collided with Kalindi Express near Khanna in Punjab, which resulted in the deaths of around 212 lives.

On July 8, 1981, Island Express collided with a local passenger train near Peruman in Kerala. Approximately 150 people lost their lives in the accident.

On November 20, 2016, Indore–Patna Express derailed near Pukhrayan in Uttar Pradesh. The accident claimed at least 150 deaths and more than 150 sustained injuries.

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Minati Singha is a correspondent at The Times of India, and cover... Read More

Top Comment

Laxminarayan Vedapudi

570 days ago

Mamata Banerjee being a šenior minister in her state with birds of the same feather (Jonathon livingston seagul ) cannot survive inthat environment since ignorance is considered as bliss.The ppattern continues with the oppostion who demand resignation instead of understanding how the accident occured.

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Odisha train accident: Mamata Banerjee and Ashwini Vaishnaw face-off over death toll

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