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Rediff.com  » News » 14 train mishaps in 14 months on Didi's watch

14 train mishaps in 14 months on Didi's watch

Last updated on: July 20, 2010 14:03 IST

Image: Volunteers conduct rescue operations on the wreckage of train carriages at Sainthia
Photographs: Reuters

Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee cannot possibly pooh-pooh this charge. Neither can she brush it aside as another 'fabricated allegation' by her Communist Party of India-Marxist detractors. Accidents have started adding up to the list of Indian Railways ever since she took over reins.

While analysts and investigative agencies are busy finding reasons, those who are not too friendly with the Trinamool Congress chief think Railways' security has become defunct of late and that Mamata is paying more attention to politics in Bengal than to her duties in New Delhi.

Let's take a look at the accidents that have taken place during her tenure, starting with the July 19 mishap:

Date: July 19, 2010

Place: Sainthia, Birbhum, West Bengal

Description: Uttarbanga Express rams into stationary Ranchi-bound Vananchal Express.

Casualty: 65 killed (toll likely to go up) and hundreds injured.

14 train mishaps in 14 months

Image: Onlookers and railway officials stand beside derailed carriages of a passenger train after an explosion in Kokrajhar

Date: July 8, 2010

Place:
Gossaigaon, Kokrajhar (Assam)

Description: National Democratic Front of Bodoland triggered a blast targetting the Garib Rath Express.

Casualty: A six-year-old boy was killed and 25 injured.

14 train mishaps in 14 months

Image: Soldiers and rescue workers move an injured passenger

Date: June 18, 2010

Place:
Koppal in Karnataka

Description: Amravati Express derailed

Casualty: About 30 injured

14 train mishaps in 14 months

Image: Mangled remains of the bus

Date: June 4, 2010

Place:
Idigarai (near Coimbatore)

Description: A bus was hit by Coimbatore-Mettupalayam special at an unguarded level-crossing

Casualty: 7 killed

14 train mishaps in 14 months

Image: Relatives of the victims of a train accident mourn outside a mortuary in Mednipur

Date: May 28, 2010

Place:
Sardiha in Jhargram

Description: Jnaneswari Express derailed and rammed into a goods train after suspected Maoists/People's Committee Against Police Atrocities' cadres dug up the tracks.

Casualty: 150 killed and many injured.

14 train mishaps in 14 months

Image: The derailed Rajdhani Express

Date: May 25, 2010

Place:
Naugachia, Bihar

Description: Rajdhani Express travelling from New Delhi to Guwahati derailed

Casualty: 12 injured

14 train mishaps in 14 months

Image: Onlookers gather near the damaged wreckage of a train carriage at the site of an accident at Gola village, on the outskirts of Tundla Railway Station, east of Agra

Date: January 16, 2010

Place:
Uttar Pradesh

Description: Collision between Kalindi Express and Shram Shakti Express in the fog

Casualty: 5 killed and about 15 injured

14 train mishaps in 14 months

Image: Onlookers gather around the wreckage of a train at the site of an accident in Etawah

Date: January 2, 2010 (3 accidents)

Place:
Etawah, Panki and Pratapgarh

Description: At Etawah, Lichchavi Express ran into Magadh Express; at Panki, Pragya Raj Express collided with Gorakhdham Express; at Pratapgarh, Sarayu Express hit a trolley.

Casualty: 1 injured at Etawah: 10 killed at Panki and no casualty was reported at Pratapgarh.

14 train mishaps in 14 months

Image: Police and railway officials stand next to an overturned coach of the passenger train

Date: November 20, 2009

Place:
Manoharpur in Jharkhand

Description: Passenger train derails after suspected Maoist rebels blew up a railway track.

Casualty: 2 killed and 15 injured

14 train mishaps in 14 months

Image: Onlookers stand beside derailed carriages of the passenger train

Date: November 14, 2009

Place:
Bassi near Jaipur

Description: Delhi-bound Mandore Express derailed

Casualty: About 10 killed and 70 injured

14 train mishaps in 14 months

Image: Onlookers stand at the site of a train accident on the outskirts of Mathura

Date: October 21, 2009

Place:
Near Mathura, Uttar Pradesh

Description: Goa Express ran into Mewar Express

Casualty: 25 killed and at least 60 injured