Odisha Train Accident: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Monday said he will not comment whether or not Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw should resign but he had tendered his resignation immediately after the Gaisal train crash took place during Kumar’s tenure.
Recalling a deadly train accident in remote town of Gaisal in West Bengal, the Bihar CM said he had resigned on the moral grounds after he seeing pain at the incident site.
CM Kumar said on his way back from the incident site, he asked then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to take his resignation but he adviced him to not take hasty actions.
However, he formally resigned from the post of Union Railways Minister citing moral grounds. He added that when he was reinstated at the post nearly one and a half year later, he dedicated himself to make Railways better.
Following this, the Bihar CM cornered the Centre over seperate Railways Budget. He said earlier there used to be money allocations for the industry but the current government has abolished the separate Railway budget.
“I will not comment if Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw should resign or not,” said the Bihar CM.
Also Read: Odisha Train Accident: ‘Dal mein kuch kaala hai…,’ says Mamata Banerjee, doubts Railways Min’s silence
A devastating accident took place among three trains at the Bahanaga Bazar station in Odisha that left nearly 280 people, while thousands were injured; many severely. The Railways Minister said the crash took place due to change in electronic interlocking.
#WATCH | A train accident took place in West Bengal when I was the Railway Minister. I immediately asked the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to accept my resignation. Earlier the Railway budget was presented separately but this new government has abolished the separate Railway… pic.twitter.com/kvyykjymm0
— ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2023
Odisha Train Accident
The collision happened among Coromandel Express, Howrah Superfast Express and a goods train already parked at Bahanaga Bazar station.
Railways Spokesperson Amitabh Sharma informed that it was the Coromandel Express that was coming from Shalimar railway station in West Bengal, which lost control at first place.
The train hit the stationary goods train at the station. As per the media reports, the collosion affected the Howrah Superfast Express too that was passing by at the time of the accident.
