MoS Railways blames Bihar govt for Rajya Rani train tragedy

 At a time when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is warming upto the Congress, Minister of State for Railways, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Tuesday blamed the Bihar government for the rail tragedy that killed thirty seven people yesterday. The 'kanwarias' or devotees of Lord Shiva were walking along the tracks at Dhamara Ghat station after alighting from the Samastipur-Saharsa passenger when the Saharsa-Patna Rajyarani Express travelling at 80 kmph, ran over them, a senior railway official said. Khagaria is about 160 km from Patna. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that 37 persons, including women and children, were killed. Among them were 13 women, four children and 20 men. The victims hailed from Khagaria, Sahrsa, Munger and Naughachia. 24 others who sustained injuries were admitted to the hospital here. Bihar also witnessed violent protests by the locals yesterday. A violent mob assaulted the train driver, set on fire an AC compartment and engine of another train, vandalised the station and even held a few rail staff hostage.

Superintendent of Police SK Jha told a news agency over phone that the engine of the Samastipur-Saharsa passenger train and an AC coach of Saharsa-Patna Rajyarani Express were set on fire by enraged local people.The two drivers of the express train, Rajaram Paswan and Sushil Kumar Suman, fled from the spot after being attacked. It is being reported that the Indian Railways suffered a loss of Rs 90 crore. Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar said that the express was not supposed to halt at Dhamara Ghat and was given clearance to pass through, but the pilgrims on the tracks thought they could stop the train.

Though the driver applied the emergency brakes, it was too late by then, he said, adding an internal inquiry has been ordered into the accident. The pilgrims were going to nearby Katyani Sthan temple to offer 'jalabhishek' to Lord Shiva on the fourth and final Monday of the holy month of Shrawan. Rashtriya Janata Dal member Ram Kirpal Yadav accused the Nitish Kumar government of not having acted with alacrity in the wake of rush of passengers and failing to prevent burning of coaches. LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, who hails from Khagaria district where the incident took place, slammed the chief minister for failing to visit the site given the gravity of the incident and providing quick relief to the victims.