Odisha train accident: Mamata Banerjee and Ashwini Vaishnaw face-off over death toll

BHUBANESWAR: In a show of a public disagreement, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw were engaged in a verbal duel at the triple train accident site at Bahanaga in Odisha's Balasore on Saturday.
There was a clear difference of opinion among the two leaders on the number of casualties in the accident and also on the transportation services provided to stranded passengers.
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After visiting the accident site when Mamata Banerjee was addressing the media when she said, the death toll in the accident might exceed 500. The railway minister who was standing near her immediately opposed her and said the death toll is 233.
Banerjee nodding her head in denial said bodies are yet to be removed from three more bogies following which the toll is likely to cross 500.

Reiterating his claim Vaishnaw said, the rescue work has already been completed and the toll is 233.

As per latest official figures, the toll in the train tragedy has increased to 288, while more than 1,000 are injured.
Further the CM said, hundreds of passengers were stranded in different stations like Soro and Balasore. Interrupting her, Vaishnaw said, shuttlers have been operating between Soro and Balasore station carrying passengers and no passengers are stranded in the station.