JXTC GENRE : DECEMBER 08 TEMPLATE

Sainthia: Home Minister P Chidambaram has said the "slow response" to the train accident in West Bengal earlier this week is unacceptable. Two passenger trains collided early on Monday morning, killing close to 60 people.

The accident took place at the Sainthia station, 190 kms from Howrah. "I was informed that the first relief team reached two and a half hours after the mishap, and the second team reached seven hours after accident...the delay was due to the fact they had to travel 220 kms by road," said Chidambaram. The accident was caused by a speeding train, the Uttarbanga Express, which rear ended the Vananchal Express as it was pulling out of the Sainthia station. Villagers in the area were quick to organise rescue operations.

Their efforts have been praised by both Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee and Chidambaram. Banerjee herself has been attacked by political opponents, who claim the accident highlights that the Railways Minister is too distracted by the politics in her home state of West Bengal to closely supervise the Railways. In May, nearly 150 people were killed when the Gyaneshwari Express derailed in Jhargram.

---

• 21/07/2010 09:11 - Slippers hurled at Bihar

• 21/07/2010 09:08 - Congress woman's flower pot attack
• 30/03/2010 11:06 - Sania taken by Shoaib
• 17/02/2010 09:10 - IITs' plan to offer medical courses
• 17/02/2010 09:04 - Pilot killed in MiG-27 crash
• 17/02/2010 09:03 - Bus falls into river

---