New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi condoled the train tragedy in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur Dehat district in which more than 115 people were killed and over 200 were injured in the wee hours of Sunday. Expressing grief over the tragic incident, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi asked the Railways to work towards achieving the zero accident target.
“I am sad to learn about the accident in which many have lost their lives and a number of people have been injured. I am sure that the state government is providing all possible assistance to the bereaved families as well as medical aid to the injured,” President Pranab Mukherjee said in a message to Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.”
He said Railway minister Suresh Prabhu is personally monitoring the situation and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured in the mishap from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Mr Modi observed two-minute silence to condole the loss of lives at the Rail Vikas Shivir, Surajkund, on the outskirts of the national capital, asking the Railways to work towards achieving the zero accident target to make train journeys safe.
Home minister Rajnath Singh also expressed deep pain over the loss of lives. He said there will be an inquiry into the incident to find out the detail cause of it.
Ms Gandhi in her condolence message said, “Words can’t describe the pain and anguish of those who lost their near and dear ones and the entire country stands in solidarity to share this unbearable sorrow.”
The Congress president also asked the local Congress unit to assist in the relief and rescue operations along with the authorities. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also expressed her condolences over the incident.
