West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Railway Minister Mukul Roy expressed their suspicions here on Thursday that the train accident near Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh earlier in the day might have been the result of foul play.
“Is it an accident or an incident; I urge the Railways to probe this,” said Ms. Banerjee. Mr. Roy said “any kind of sabotage has not been ruled out.”
A high-level probe has been initiated and the Member-Engineering (of the Railway Board) is already inquiring into the matter, Mr. Roy said.
He announced an ex gratia of Rs. 5 lakh to the family of the deceased, Rs. 1 lakh each to those seriously injured and Rs. 25,000 each to those with minor injuries.
The Railways will offer a job to one member of the families of each of the deceased if they wanted employment.