Midnapore: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has rushed to the site where the Mumbai-bound Gyaneshwari Express first derailed and then was hit by a goods train, has said the Railways was on red alert and there had been patrolling on the tracks just an hour before the incident happened.
Mamata said the accident was caused by a blast. But there is still some confusion about that with the police saying it could have happened because fishplates were removed.
Mamata said the alert had been called as the Maoists had declared May 28, 29, 30, 31 as Black Days. "But we couldn't have stopped running trains, it's the lifeline of the nation...Patrolling was done an hour ago. The Maoists are very particular about the timing...they are adjusting it according to patrol time...The timing was crucial "
Mamata refused to go into the law and order issue saying it was a state subject.
The minister has announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation for those dead and Rs 2 lakh for those injured. She also said one family member of those who had died would get employment.
The minister did repeatedly add though that this in no way could compensate for lives lost.