In the wake of the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express colliding with a stationary goods train near Chennai, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed deep concern over the recurring nature of train accidents in India. Speaking out on Saturday, Gandhi drew parallels between this incident and the tragic Balasore accident that occurred earlier this year, where a passenger train collided with a goods train, resulting in significant loss of life.
“How many more families must destroyed before this government wakes up” Gandhi posted on X (formerly Twitter). He emphasized that the Mysuru-Darbhanga train accident reflects a troubling pattern: “Despite many lives lost in numerous accidents, no lessons are learned. Accountability starts at the top.”
The incident, which took place late Friday evening in Kavaraipettai, Tamil Nadu, resulted in at least 12 coaches of the Bagmati Express derailing. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, but nine individuals sustained injuries, according to a Southern Railways official. In response to the accident, the Railways has ordered a high-level inquiry to determine the cause and prevent future occurrences.
Echoing her brother’s sentiments, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the government’s lack of accountability in handling train accidents. “Train accidents have become so common in the country that despite occurring one after another, neither any accountability is being fixed by the government nor any action is being taken,” she remarked in a message on her WhatsApp channel.
Priyanka highlighted the ongoing fears faced by ordinary citizens traveling by train: “Crores of common people are forced to travel in trains running on the wheels of fear and chaos, risking their lives because the government has turned its back on the responsibility of safe train travel.”
She also pointed to the growing frustration surrounding the government’s response to repeated accidents: “Once again, an accident like Balasore has happened with the Mysuru-Darbhanga Express in Tamil Nadu. When will this series going on for months stop? When will accountability be fixed?”
The Balasore incident in June 2023 was one of the worst train disasters in recent history, resulting in 291 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. As the country grapples with these safety issues, the call for stricter accountability and effective measures to ensure passenger safety continues to grow louder among opposition leaders.