Prabhu is earnest but Centre neglecting Railways, says CM

Holding the Modi government responsible for the repeated train accidents in recent times, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday tweeted: "Now railways is neglected and being given less priority."

The Chief Minister tweeted after 36 people were killed and over 50 left injured after seven coaches and the engine of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express

derailed near Kuneru at Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday.

Criticising the step of the Modi government to present only the Union Budget instead of presenting the Railway Budget separately, Banerjee, who remained Railway minister twice, stated in the tweet that "the Budget is being curtailed. Safety and security (of railways) are being compromised."

Instead of holding Suresh Prabhu, Railway Minister, responsible for such a situation which is leading to frequent accidents, she maintained in the tweet: "We don't blame the Minister; he is earnest in his efforts. But government needs to address issues urgently."

Expressing her concern over the train accident at Vizinagaram the claimed lives of more than 32 passengers, the Chief Minister tweeted that "Railway carries crores of people every day. It is the lifeline of the nation. We are proud of our Indian Railway employees. However, now Railways is neglected and being given less priority… Sadly, today also many people lost their lives. My condolence to their loved ones."

It may be mentioned that there had been repeated train accidents in the past few months. On November 20, 150 people were killed and around 200 were left injured when 14 coaches of Indore-Patna Express had derailed near Kanpur.

The derailment of Indore-Patna Express was considered to be the most tragic train accidents in the past seven years. Sixty five people were killed when Sealdah-Ajmer Express derailed on December 28.

Train accidents now have become a daily route with derailment of coaches of different long distance trains were reported in the past two days.

Before people could have recovered from the shock of derailment of some coaches of Ranikhet Express at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on Friday, derailment of nine coaches of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express claimed 32 lives.