Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday slammed the Centre following the latest train accident in Tamil Nadu, asking how many more families “must be destroyed” before the government acknowledges the need for change. He noted that despite multiple fatal accidents, no lessons have been learned, highlighting that accountability starts at the top.
Taking to his official handle on X, Gandhi wrote, “The Mysuru-Darbhanga train accident mirrors the horrific Balasore accident–a passenger train colliding with a stationary goods train. Despite many lives lost in numerous accidents, no lessons are learned. Accountability starts at the top. How many more families must be destroyed before this government wakes up.”
The collision took place on Friday in Tamil Nadu when the Mysuru-Darbhanga Express, travelling at 75 km/h, struck a stationary goods train after mistakenly entering a loop line instead of the main line. Several passengers were injured, and one coach caught fire, according to railway officials.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also condemned the government’s handling of train safety. She highlighted that train accidents have become alarmingly frequent, saying, “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 described the situation as one where “crores of common people” travel in fear, risking their lives due to the government’s neglect of train safety. Once again, an accident like Balasore has happened with the Mysore-Darbhanga Express in Tamil Nadu, Priyanka Gandhi said.
“When will this series going on for months stop? When will accountability be fixed,” she further questioned.
Meanwhile, the Railway Board said that no casualties have been confirmed from the incident, which took place in the Ponneri-Kavarapettai section of the Chennai Rail Division. Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity for the Railway Board, stated in a video message, “We received information of collision of the Bagmati Express with a freight train at the Kavarapettai station in the Chennai Division. Rescue and relief team reached the accident site immediately.”