The blame game between the Railways and the Bihar Government which began only a few hours after the tragic death of 37 pilgrims when they were run over near Dhamaraghat station by Rajya Rani Express in the State’s Khagaria district took an interesting turn when Minister of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accused the State administration of laxity in their duties leading to the mishap.
Chowdhury who had visited the accident site past midnight on Monday told mediapersons at Patna Airport that the local administration did not alert the Railways about the huge congregation of pilgrims for the mela (fair) at the Katayani temple. If the local administration had provided prior information about the gathering of such a large number of people, the Railways could have made some proper arrangements,” Chowdhury added.
“The local administration did not coordinate with the Railways for making the necessary arrangement in view of the fair at the temple on the last Monday of Sawan,” he noted. Speaking on the argument over the number of pilgrims killed in the train disaster at Dhamara Ghat in Khagaria district, he said that only 28 people lost their lives while nine others injured in the accident.
He said that it appears that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar probably added up figures of death toll and injured to reach the toll of 37. Chowdhury also met the injured at a local hospital in Khagaria and inquired about their health condition. He blamed the State Government for not constructing a road to Dhamaraghat station despite the fact that the Centre gives huge funds to the Government under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY).
Responding to a query, the Chief Minister had told mediapersons on Monday that it was a matter of investigation whether speed restriction was ordered in view of the day being the last Monday of Sawan and a large crowd of pilgrims was expected at the station as famous Katyani Temple is located at a little distance. Dismissing any lapse on the part of the State administration, the Chief Minister said that he had immediately talked to Railways Minister Mallikarjun Kharge after the accident. He said that he was in regular contacts with the General Manager of East Central Railway (ECR) zone, Madhuresh Kumar.
Meanwhile, train services have resumed in both Up and Down lines under Saharsa-Mansi section from late night on Monday itself. The two drivers of the Rajya Rani Express (Rajaram Paswan and Sushil Kumar Suman) who were badly beaten up by protesters are safe and undergoing medical treatment, sources added.
The GM Madhuresh Kumar said that Minister of State for Railways had given instruction to install public address system at Dhamaraghat station to alert people against approaching trains for averting such accidents in future. On the other hand, State BJP president Mangal Pandey and leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Nand Kishore Yadav have lambasted Nitish Kumar for not visiting the mishap site and also not meeting injured devotees in hospitals.