Jnaneswari Express train derailment

On 28 May 2010, a Jnaneshwari Express train derailed at about 1 am in the West Midnapore district of West Bengal, India (between the Sardiha and Khemasuli railway stations near Jhargram).[3] It was disputed as to whether sabotage or a bomb caused damage on the railway track, which in turn led to the derailment, before an oncoming goods train hit the loose carriages and resulted in the deaths of at least 148 passengers.[1]

Jnaneswari Express train derailment
LocationWest Midnapore, West Bengal
Coordinates22°21′34″N 87°09′09″E
Date28 May 2010
2:30 IST (UTC+05:30)
Attack type
Sabotage or bombing
Deaths148+[1]
Injured200+[2]
PerpetratorDebated, multiple players may have been responsible

Background

A few weeks before the incident the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh said Naxal attacks were affecting the profitability of the railways: "We have lost Rs 5 billion because of Naxal bandhs and obstructions. There has been adverse impact on operations, freight loading and passenger traffic on a localised basis during bandh calls and other threats in vulnerable areas."[4]

The derailment occurred 90 minutes after a Communist Party of India (Maoist) or CPI(M) four-day bandh in the area began.[5] It was termed a "black week" and security was put on high alert.[6]

Derailment

The state police chief stated that Maoist Naxalites claimed responsibility for removing a 46-centimetre (18 in) length of railway track.[7] At 01:30 local time, a train with 13 carriages passing over the missing track derailed. The Howrah – Kurla Lokmanya Tilak Jnaneswari Super Deluxe Express was travelling from Howrah to Mumbai.[3] The derailed train was then struck by a goods train travelling in the opposite direction.[3] At least 148 people died and more than 180 people were injured.[1][8] The missing track was between Khemasuli and Sardiha stations.[3] A section of the rail track was found to be missing and fishplates were loosened, suggesting sabotage.[7][9]

Initially there was uncertainty as to whether the derailment was an accident or the result of a bomb blast. Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said a bomb blast was part of a "calculated attack" that caused the train to derail.[10] She said "The driver of the train heard an explosion, so we are looking into that. We are aware that the Naxals have access to sophisticated bombs and improvised explosive devices."[4]

Rescue operation

Officially, 26 bodies were found, and a rescue team was working to find more bodies. Indian Air Force helicopters were pressed into service at the accident spot and airlifted some of the injured passengers to hospitals.[7] The National Cadet Corps were also involved and a medical train was sent to the location.[11]

Investigation

During the course of the investigation into the derailment, Samir Mahato, a member of the Sidhu Kanhu Gana Militia — the militant wing of the People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) — was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police from Jhargram in West Midnapore district. His was the second arrest made by the CID in the case after the prime accused Khagen Mahato.[12]

Responsibility

After the West Bengal police said that the Jnaneswari Express accident "appears to be the work of Maoists,"[7] the police found posters from the Maoist-affiliated Police Santras Birodhi Janosadharan Committee (PCPA) claiming responsibility at the site.[13][14] A PCPA spokesperson, however, denied involvement in the incident, instead blaming the CPI(M) of "hatching a plot" to malign the Railway Minister and of attempting to distance the PCPA from the people.[15]

Reaction

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his grief over the loss of lives.[16] The government of India said it would give Rs. 500,000 to the kin of the dead and offer jobs to family members.[11] The government of West Bengal announced that it would bear the cost of treatment for the victims.[7]

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee condemned the attack,[17] although he was seen as unusually cautious in blaming Maoists for triggering the derailment. He also appeared to deny there was a blast, in contrast to his cabinet colleague Mamata Banerjee. "I am deeply saddened by the tragedy. It appears to be a case of sabotage where a portion of the track was removed. Whether explosives were used is not yet clear."[18] Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee rushed to the location of the accident where she said she was aware of the Maoist-declared black days and security had been increased.[19]

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya condemned the attack. He said, "All our efforts have to be directed against this menace; on how the State and the country can be liberated from this threat ... We will sensitise our forces and we will counter this Maoist threat. We knew they would be observing this week, but we had no idea that they would be committing this dastardly crime."[20] He also warned that "they are coming from all sides."[4]

Political blame-game

A day after the attack Bhattacharya and Banerjee got into a war of words that was linked to the upcoming municipal elections in the province.[21] It was alleged that Banerjee is backing pro-Maoist groups like the PCPA in her political battle against Bhattacharya's CPI(M).[22]

Trinamool Congress is trying to mobilise all the anti-Left forces including the Maoists. Not just in Lalgarh but also in Nandigram and Singur where they have launched movements. In both the places, they took the help of the Maoists." Nirupam Sen, Industries Minister in the West Bengal government.

"What were the people and tribals of Lalgarh looking for? They were simply looking for dignity, security and relief from abject poverty. And what did they get in return? They got the lathis and bullets as they were terrorised by the CPI(M) and the police." Derek O'Brien, TMC spokesperson.

Banerjee later called the incident a political conspiracy, while hinting at the involvement of elements of the ruling CPI(M) party.[23]

Naxals

A spokesperson for the CPI(M), Comrade Akaash, contacted the BBC and said the Naxals would investigate whether renegade factions may have been behind the attack. In regard to the Railways Ministry halting train traffic into Naxal affected areas during the night hours, Akaash said the Naxals would guarantee the safety and security of rail traffic into those regions.[24]

See also

References
  1. Koushik Dutta (14 July 2018). "Eight years after Gyaneshwari Express accident, families of victims still wait for closure". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. "India train attack death toll rises – CENTRAL/S. ASIA". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  3. "15 dead, Gyaneshwari Express derail after blast". Indian Express. 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  4. Ghoshal, Devjyot (29 May 2010). "Naxals menace stalks Railways". Business Standard India. Business-standard.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  5. "'Sabotage' behind India train crash". Al-Jazeera. 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  6. Magnier, Mark (28 May 2010). "India train crash leaves 65 dead in West Bengal state". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  7. "At least 25 dead in India train blast and collision". BBC News. 27 May 2010. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  8. Bose, Raktima (28 May 2010). "15 dead, Gyaneshwari Express derail after blast". Chennai, India: Indian Express. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  9. Jnaneswari Express accident One foot section of track missing Archived 12 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Bomb blast caused train derailment: Mamata Banerjee". Ndtv.com. 20 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  11. NDTV. 28 May 2010. 7:30.
  12. "Jhargram train derailment: PCPA leader Samir Mahato arrested- Hindustan Times". Archived from the original on 11 June 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  13. "List of the injured persons who are admitted KGP Rly. Hospital due to incident on Howrah–Mumbai Jnaneswari Super deluxe Exp" (PDF). CIDWestBengal.gov.in. 29 May 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  14. "Times of India Publications". Lite.epaper.timesofindia.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  15. "Marxists derailed train to defame us: PCPA". 30 May 2010. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010.
  16. "bwin必赢亚洲在线娱乐_必赢亚洲56.net_www.56.net". livestreamingx.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010.
  17. NDTV. 28 May 2010, 16:45 IST.
  18. Nishit Dholabhai (1 March 1999). "The Telegraph – Calcutta (Kolkata) | Nation | PC cautious on rebel role". Calcutta, India: Telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  19. "Mamata rushes to mishap spot, says Railways aware of Maoist Black Day – Oneindia News". News.oneindia.in. 30 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  20. "The Hindu : News / National : Buddhadeb vows to fight Maoists". Chennai, India: Beta.thehindu.com. 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
  21. "Front Page : Train disaster a political conspiracy, says Mamata". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 30 May 2010. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  22. "Maoists gain from CPM-TMC spat in West Bengal – Politics – Political News – ibnlive". Ibnlive.in.com. 3 February 2010. Archived from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  23. "Mamata blames political opponents for derailment". 29 May 2010. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010.
  24. "Maoists 'promise train security'". BBC News. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
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