New Delhi/IBNS: The opposition has vehemently attacked the Centre over the Bengal train accident that resulted in the death of nine and injured 50 others.

From former railway ministers Lalu Yadav and Mamata Banerjee to various leaders in the Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP, social media platforms have been full of angry accusations, demanding that the government take responsibility for the mishap.

Speaking to reporters, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who reached the accident site, said: "Accidents are not in the control of anyone but the government should take responsibility for its negligence and inability to take precautionary measures to prevent such incidents."

Photo courtesy: IBNS

This government is only interested in elections..How to hack... how to manipulate. They do not care for amenities like dirty bathrooms and bedding sheets. They do not take care of the railway staff," she said.

Banerjee handled the railway portfolio from 2009 to 2011 during the second term of the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. She had also held the ministry for less than two years in the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

In his defence, Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said this is "not the time for politics".

Three coaches of Kolkata-bound Kanchanjunga Express derailed early this morning when a goods train collided with it near New Jalpaiguri.

The casualties would have been higher had the parcel coach and the guard's coach not been at the rear.

In the afternoon, Vaishnaw reached the spot. "Rescue operation is over, our focus is now on restoration. This is not the time for politics," he said, responding to questions on Opposition criticism. 

In a fierce attack, Rashtriya Janata Dal patriarch Lalu Yadav, who handled the railway portfolio during the first term of the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh, said: "Who is responsible for the continuous railway accidents in the country?"

The Congress attack was spearheaded by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who accused the BJP-led government of indulging in "utter mismanagement of the Railway Ministry".

"As a responsible Opposition, it is our bounden duty to underline how the Modi Govt has systematically converted the Rail Ministry into a platform of 'Camera-driven' self-promotion! Today's tragedy is yet another reminder of this stark reality," he said.

Congress's Rahul Gandhi underscored the point, saying, "As a responsible Opposition, we will keep raising questions on this scary negligence and make the government accountable."

"The safety and travel of passengers in Indian Railways is now becoming a matter of concern," read a rough translation of a Hindi post from Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

"The railway accidents that have happened in the last 10 years are the result of the central government's negligence and mismanagement. We will continue to raise our voice against this," senior Congress leader Deepender Hooda told reporters.

NDRF team, police, medical team have rushed to the spot. The rescue operation is still underway.

The Kanchanjungha Express is a common train for the tourists and people to travel from the southern part of West Bengal to North Bengal.