Mamata suspects sabotage

Describing the derailment as “a small and unfortunate incident” the Railway minister told a mediaperson: “Planes crash at times,but will people stop boarding aircraft in future? Don’t spread panic. Altogether 17,000 trains run across the country each day.”

She alleged that the CPM stalled trains with banana leaves,did not allow doors of Metro trains to close and was up to “other mischief”. “When Assembly elections are near,the CPM will engage in such a mischief,” she added.

Asked to comment on CPM’s criticism of her handling of the underground railway,Banerjee said: “The West Bengal government itself has derailed. Miscreants are everywhere.” The state government,meanwhile,held a meeting to find avenues to deal with emergencies,including law and order situation,during crisis hour in the underground rail.

State Home Secretary G D Gautama said a disaster management team was sent to the station for assisting in evacuating passengers,“but until the Metro Authority seeks our help we can’t do anything. They were not called to help. “When the situation was posing a threat to law and order,I ordered them go and assist in the operations to evacuate passengers,” he said. The Metro Authority was supposed to keep a standby arrangement at all stations for emergency evacuation and law and order,but the authorities of the underground railway had not done so as yet,he said.

The Home Secretary said the Chief Secretary would hold a meeting with the Metro Rail General Manager Amarnath tomorrow,but later Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said the date was yet to be finalised.