Odisha Train Accident: Mamata Banerjee Says CBI Probe Won’t Help; What’s Her Issue?

Kolkata: The Railway Board has recommended Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the horrific triple-train accident at Odisha’s Balasore which claimed 275 lives and injured over 1,200 people.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee feels a CBI probe will yield no results.

Mamata recalled her experience when she was Union Railway minister in 2010, when the Gyaneswari Express mishap led to 148 deaths.

“I had also given the Gyaneswari Express accident case to Central Bureau of Investigation 13 years ago. But there was no result. I handed over the Sainthia accident case also to the CBI. No result there as well. The CBI probes criminal cases, but this is an accident case. The railway safety commission is there to investigate. We want people to know the truth. It is not a time to suppress the truth. Think about all those who have lost their family members,” Mamata said after meeting dozens of passengers who were injured in the incident and are being treated at the state-run SSKM hospital in Kolkata.

Over 70 of the 150-odd dead bodies identified so far are from Bengal.

“There are many more… As far as I know, 120 bodies are still lying unidentified,” Mamata said.

The Bengal CM informed that she will be visiting Cuttack tomorrow.

“I will visit Cuttack tomorrow… 53 patients are admitted there. 76 bodies have been brought to our state so far. 206 people are being treated in different hospitals across the state, including 16 patients from other states. 66 are admitted in Medinipur only,” she said.