Congress criticizes Modi government over West Bengal train accident

Reacting to Monday's collision between the Kanchanjunga Express and a goods train in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, the Congress party accused the Modi government of ‘criminal abandonment’ of the Indian Railways. Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge expressed deep distress over the incident, stating, "Extremely distressed by the collision in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, where many people have lost their lives and several have been injured. The scenes are painful. Our heart goes out to the families of the victims. We express our solidarity and condolences to each one of them. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured. Immediate and full compensation must be provided to the victims." Kharge further criticized the Modi government for 'utterly mismanaging' the Railway ministry over the past decade, turning it into a 'platform of camera-driven self-promotion.'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation and expressed his condolences on social media. "The accident in West Bengal is saddening. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. Rescue operations are underway to assist the affected. The Railways Minister Shri@AshwiniVaishnaw Ji is on the way to the site of the mishap as well," PM Modi wrote. The government announced compensation of ₹10 lakh for the kin of each deceased, ₹2.5 lakh for those grievously injured, and ₹50,000 for minor injuries.