Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw responded to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s criticism on Tuesday, asserting that it was the Trinamool Congress chief herself who “set records for rail accidents.” Vaishnaw presented data claiming that under the UPA government, there were 171 accidents annually, while last year, the number was reduced to 40. He further said that his ministry has been working relentlessly to reduce the incidents further.
This came after Mamata Banerjee mocked the Indian Railways, saying that it has created a “world record” in derailments. She made the comment after the incident in Jalpaiguri of West Bengal, where empty wagons of a freight train got derailed.
Vaishnaw was in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, to be part of the trial run of Kavach 4.0. Talking to CNN-News18, the minister said, “During the UPA period, 171 accidents used to happen every year. We have worked relentlessly and have made sure that these incidents are less. Last year, there were 40. I don’t think it is a matter of politics. We must keep politics out of it.”
He further said, replying to a question related to incidents throughout Indian Railways, “I would say that please don’t get into these activities. We will go down to the last detail to make sure that we arrest such people and give them strict punishment.”
The Rail Ministry, in an RTI reply to CNN-News18, also presented the data of accidents in the past 20 years. The figures show a marked reduction from 351 accidents in 2002-03 to 40 in 2023-24. However, the data also reveals a troubling spike in casualties during the 2023-24 period, with 317 deaths and 749 injuries recorded, compared to just two deaths and 76 injuries in the previous year.
The breakdown of accidents in 2023-24 included 25 derailments, 6 collisions, and 9 fires in trains, providing key areas for targeted safety enhancements. Notably, the Vande Bharat trains, introduced in 2019, have reported no consequential accidents or derailments to date, though officials caution against complacency, as per RTI reply.
On Tuesday, Mamata Banerjee had lashed out on Vaishnaw saying, “What is happening with the Railways? Even today, there is the news of derailment. The Railways has created a world record in derailments. But, nobody says anything?”
“People’s safety and security is in danger, and they are scared of travelling in trains. Where is the railway minister? Only asking for votes during elections will not help, you have to be by the side of people when they are in danger,” the West Bengal CM added.
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