3rd June 2023, Mumbai: On Saturday, Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, called the terrible train catastrophe in Odisha “the biggest of the century” and called for a thorough probe to determine what really happened. In a meeting with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) enquired as to why the anti-collusion mechanism, which may have prevented the disaster, was not installed in the trains.
“Since this is the largest railway catastrophe of the century, a thorough investigation is required…There must be a reason behind this. The truth has to be revealed. Why did the anti-collision mechanism fail to function? Vaishnaw accompanied Banerjee when she briefed the media and was interrogated.
In 1999, Banerjee was the minister of railways in the NDA administration led by the BJP. Under the UPA-II administration, she assumed control of the railways for the second time in 2009. She stated, “The Railways is like my baby,” pointing out that the budget for the railways is not presented separately during the Union budget session. I am a member of the railway community and am prepared to offer my recommendations.
Banerjee stated that the West Bengali families of passengers killed in the disaster would receive compensation in the amount of 5 lakh from her government.
“I am standing here with the Railway Minister and BJP MPs. The Bengal government will provide ₹5 lakh each to the people of our state and cooperate and work with the Railways and Odisha Government until the work is complete. We have also sent 40 doctors and two buses from Bengal to Odisha for further medical assistance,” she said.