West Bengal govt suspects Maoist hand in train derailment

West Bengal government today said Maoists are suspected to be behind the derailment of the Kurla-bound Gyaneswari Express in West Midnapore district in the wee hours today that left 65 dead.

"Sabotage by Maoists is very much suspected. The place where the accident took place is their stronghold," West Bengal's chief secretary Ardhendu Sen told PTI.

"Thirteen bogies jumped the rails. Four compartments were badly mangled. You can imagine how many passengers were travelling in those coaches," he said.

Asked about the death toll, Sen said 26 bodies have been recovered so far and rescue operations were continuing particularly in the four coaches hit by the goods train.

He said that additional secretary of the Union home ministry, DRS Sen, enquired about the accident from him.

"The state government is in constant touch with the railways," he added. There were also reports that fish plates might have been removed or that tracks were cut, Sen said.

Sen said that the state government has rushed a team of doctors and rescuers to the spot.

He said the injured passengers were admitted to hospitals in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly and at Kharagpur in West Midnapore district. Medical teams were treating injured passengers at the accident site also.

DGP Bhupinder Singh told reporters at the accident site that "this is a Maoist act and preliminary inquiries strongly support our suspicion."

He said the state government will take stern action against the Maoists.