The Opposition Congress party on Monday demanded the resignation of Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw following a train accident in West Bengal that resulted in the deaths of over 15 people and left more than 60 injured.

At least 15 people were killed and around 60 others injured after a goods train collided with the Sealdah-bound Kanchanjunga Express near Rangapani station in West Bengal, according to police.

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In a statement on his official handle on X, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed deep distress over the collision. “The scenes of the accident are painful. Our heart goes out to the families of the victims. In this hour of grief, we express our solidarity and condolences to each one of them. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured.” he wrote.

Kharge slammed the Modi-led central government for what he described as a decade of mismanagement of the Railway Ministry. “In the past 10 years, Modi Govt has indulged in the utter mismanagement of the Railway Ministry. As a responsible Opposition, it is our bounden duty to underline how the Modi Govt has systematically converted the Rail Ministry into a platform of ‘Camera-driven’ self-promotion !,” he posted on X.

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He added, “Make no mistake, we will remain persistent with our questions and shall make the Modi Govt accountable for its criminal abandonment of the Indian Railways.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on X: “The government should immediately provide full compensation to all the victims or their families.”

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Attacking the PM Modi-led central government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “Congress workers are requested to provide all possible assistance in relief and rescue efforts.”

“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. 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,” he posted on X.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari also called for Vaishnaw’s resignation, citing poor management that led to the tragedy. “Wrong management, wrong policy, wrong steps are behind the rail accidents. The load on tracks has been increasing but there is no focus on safety. The country had not recovered from the rail accident in Odisha and now this big accident has happened. The Rail Ministry is not able to manage. The Railway Minister should resign,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate also criticised the Railway Minister for the lack of accountability despite numerous accidents. “This plight of Indian Railways is worrying. Despite so many accidents, there is no accountability. When should we discuss the safety of people – the minister has no time to spare for making reels,” she said.

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav also took to X, questioning the continuous railway accidents. “Who is responsible for the continuous railway accidents in the country?” he asked.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the train accident. In a post on X, the prime minister said the “railway accident in West Bengal is saddening. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones”.