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
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
Date: June 18, 2010
Place: Koppal in Karnataka
Description: Amravati Express derailed
Casualty: About 30 injured
14 train mishaps in 14 months
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Date: October 21, 2009
Place: Near Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
Description: Goa Express ran into Mewar Express
Casualty: 25 killed and at least 60 injured
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