Sainthia:
Home Minister P Chidambaram has said the response in reaching relief to the site of the train accident in West Bengal earlier this week should have been better.
Two passenger trains collided early on Monday morning, killing close to 60 people. The accident took place at the Sainthia station, 190 km from Howrah.(
West Bengal train accident: 60 dead as train rams another)
"I was informed that the first relief team reached two and a half hours after the mishap, and the second team reached seven hours after accident...the delay was due to the fact they had to travel 220 km by road... A clear gap in mobility of teams," said Chidambaram.
The Home Minister said helicopters and planes should be used for this kind of relief work.
The accident was caused by a speeding train, the Uttarbanga Express, which rear ended the Vananchal Express as it was pulling out of the Sainthia station.(
Bengal train accident: Unanswered questions)
Villagers in the area were quick to organise rescue operations. Their efforts have been praised by both Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee and Chidambaram.
Banerjee herself has been attacked by political opponents, who claim the accident highlights that the Railways Minister is too distracted by the politics in her home state of West Bengal to closely supervise the Railways.(
Bengal train accident: Mamata expresses suspicion about cause) | (
Read: Mamata vs CPM on Bengal train accident)
In May, nearly 150 people were killed when the Gyaneshwari Express derailed in Jhargram.(
Read: Chronology of major train accidents since 2000)