‘Dal Me Kuch Kaala Hai’: Mamata Questions Official Death Figures Of Odisha Train Accident

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday slammed the Centre over the Odisha train tragedy and questioned the official death toll in the tragedy.

"When yesterday he (Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw) was present with me and I mentioned about anti-collision device, why didn't he open his mouth? 'Dal mein kuch kaala hai', we want the truth to come out," Mamata said while responding to a question about the interlocking system.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee engaged in a verbal duel over the death toll in the Odisha train accident.

During an interaction with the media, the Bengal CM claimed that she had information that the death count might exceed 500. Vaishnaw, who was standing next to her, disagreed with her and tried to correct her by saying "As per the Odisha government's data, the death toll is 238."

Mamata further attacked the BJP government, and said, "Yesterday both Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were standing with me but I didn't say anything. I could have said a lot because I myself have been Railway Minister. Why Coromandel Express and Bengaluru-Howrah Express didn't have anti-collision devices? The Railways have been left to be sold."

The West Bengal CM then said, "How come the information given by the Ministry differs so much? The figures have been changing from morning to evening. Daal mein kuch kaala hai."

She demanded justice to the victims and said, "I just want justice for the people. Patients and the families of the deceased should not be harassed. The number should not be suppressed, and they should not hide the reality. The truth should come out."

The train crash, the fourth deadliest in India according to available records, happened near Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore district, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar, around 7 pm on Friday, prompting the Railway Ministry to order a probe.

At least 275 people have been killed while over 1,000 people have been injured in the tragedy.