Railways Minister Mukul Roy under attack after Tamil Nadu Express fire - NDTV

New Delhi/Kolkata: Railway Minister Mukul Roy is under fire after this year's fourth major train accident yesterday. The Tamil Nadu Express fire that left 28 people charred beyond recognition, has raised big questions on railway safety. And on the whereabouts of the Railways Minister.

Mr Roy has been accused by ally, the Congress, of abandoning his ministry and spending too much time in Kolkata. "Look at the Railways Minister, he has only one job - to stay in Kolkata, roam around Didi and keep taking down things that she says. He has abandoned his rail office. If he doesn't like the post assigned to him, then he should leave it and permanently stay here. If he will continue to stay in Kolkata, roam around Didi, then these incidents will be repeated," said West Bengal Congress leader Adhir Chaudhury, while demanding better safety on trains.

A sleeper coach of the Tamil Nadu Express caught fire near Nellore in Andhra Pradesh at about 4.30 am yesterday. It took five minutes for the train to be brought to a halt, by which time many of the passengers, who had been asleep, were trapped in the fire and smoke. Bodies were found near a door, leading to questions on whether people  could not escape because the door was blocked or jammed. Trains do not have adequate fire fighting equipment or fire alarm system; the Tamil Nadu Express tragedy highlighted that big safety loophole.    

There are now many questions on whether the Railways is adequately equipped with manpower, infrastructure and technology to stop such incidents from happening again. Mr Chaudhury said, "We hear tall talk and assurances on railway and other projects in West Bengal by the leaders of the ruling party but nothing is being implemented... all major railway projects are pending due to the callous attitude of the railway minister." The Congress is an ally of the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, but the relationship has been at breakpoint for many months now.

Mr Roy pleads that his task is huge - India operates 20,000 trains everyday with two million passengers - and that he is doing everything he can. "We are taking safety as a first priority, we have already met the Prime Minister and the Planning Commission. And we are shortly coming out with a detailed budget to ensure the safety and security of the passengers." Mr Roy said yesterday.

There have been four major train accidents this year. In February, a passenger train derailed after striking a construction vehicle in Assam, killing three and injuring 50. On May 22, a major accident involving the Hampi Express and a goods train in Andhra Pradesh killed 25 people. Within 10 days, the Howrah-Dehradun Express derailed in Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh on May 31.