Howrah-Mumbai Mail Derailment: Fatalities and Criticism Follow Train Accident

A train derailment in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharsawan district resulted in two deaths and 22 injuries after 18 coaches of the Howrah-Mumbai Mail derailed. The incident led critics to slam Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on safety issues. The railways have been diverting and cancelling trains while restoring affected tracks.

Early Tuesday, a tragic derailment of the Howrah-Mumbai Mail in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharsawan district resulted in two fatalities and 22 injuries, according to officials. The accident affected 18 of the train's 22 coaches.

The incident spurred opposition parties, including Congress, JMM, and Trinamool Congress, to criticize Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for failing to ensure passenger safety. They called on him to prioritize safety measures over other projects.

The derailment forced the cancellation or diversion of 35 trains as efforts to restore the three affected tracks commenced. South Eastern Railway spokesperson Om Prakash Charan stated it would take 18 to 20 hours to resume train movement. Ex-gratia payments were announced for the victims' families and the injured.

(With inputs from agencies.)