New Delhi: In the wake of the devastating train accident in Odisha, that killed at least 261 people and injured more than 900, Opposition leaders stressed the importance of prioritising safety of passengers, while some demanded the resignation of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Terming the accident "horrendous", the Congress asserted there are several questions for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Vaishnaw but the immediate task was of rescue and relief.
"At this moment of a grave national tragedy on account of the terrible train disaster in Odisha, I have instructed the entire Congress party organisation to extend all possible help," party president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a statement.
"It reinforces why SAFETY should always be the foremost priority in the functioning of the rail network. There are many legitimate questions that need to be raised but that should wait till tomorrow," Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh tweeted.
West Bengal Chief Minister former railway minister Mamata Banerjee went to the accident site earlier in the day and demanded a proper investigation. “This is the biggest train accident of this century and a proper investigation must be conducted,” news agency PTI quoted the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo as saying. "Something must be behind this. The truth must come out. Why didn't the anti-collision system work?" CM Banerjee said.
CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, too, raised the same question. "Do we no longer have any signalling and safety system in Indian railways? Or will such terrible tragedies become the new normal for rail travel in India? We owe an answer to the victims and to the families who lost their near and dear ones in this mishap," he tweeted.
Meanwhile, the CPI and RJD demanded that Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw resign over the incident.
"Government concentrates only on luxury trains. Trains and tracks of common people are neglected. Odisha deaths are the result of it. Rail minister should resign," CPI MP Binoy Viswam said in a tweet.
Some Congress leaders also demanded Vaishnaw's resignation.
Tagging a tweet by Vaishnaw on ex-gratia compensation to the accident victims, Odisha Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka said, "You should resign first. Ask some person to investigate the reason for this mishap and do course corrections, as well as ensure support to the injured.”
BJP President JP Nadda said the party has decided to postpone all its programmes marking the completion of nine years of its government at the Centre in the light of the incident.
Meanwhile, the Railways have said that "Kavach" - the automatic train protection system, was not available on the route where the accident occurred.