Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condoled the deaths of 34 people who were killed during a train derailment in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district.
"My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to the derailment of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express. The tragedy is saddening," the Prime Minsiter's office said in a tweet quoting Modi.
The Prime Minsiter further added that the Railway Ministry was monitoring the situation very closely and is working to ensure quick rescue and relief operations.
"I pray for a speedy recovery of all those injured due to the train accident," said Modi.
Expressing profound shock and grief over the tragic incident, Railway minister Suresh Prabhu today cancelled his scheduled visit to North-Eastern states and rushed to the mishap site to take stock of the rescue and relief operations.
“Deeply pained and anguished at the loss of innocent lives in the unfortunate accident.Pray for the early recovery of those injured. In view of the unfortunate accident,I am cutting short my official visit to the North East and rushing to the site,” Prabhu tweeted.
Union Home Miniser Rajnath Singh also expressed grief over the tragedy. "The news of train accident in Andhra Pradesh is extremely distressing. Deeply pained over the loss of precious lives," the minister tweeted.
Similarly, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik also expressed profound grief over the death of 34 passengers.
After reviewing the situation arising out of the train derailment at State Secretariat here today, Patnaik, said, “Our government will extend all support as far as the accident is concerned. My deepest condolences to the families of those who died in the accident. I have instructed the chief secretay, the DGP and the health secretary to fly at once to Rayagada. I have just spoken to the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh to extend all support.”
Chief secretary AP Padhi and DGP KB Singh were present during the review meeting.
Talking to newsmen DGP KB Singh said, “32 persons were killed and more than 60 persons sustained injures in the train mishap. The injured persons are undergoing treatment at hospitals. There is no information regarding Maoists involvement in the tragic incident. The picture will be clear after completion of the probe.”
Notably, the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailed on Saturday night at 11.30 p.m., near Kuneru station. The train was enroute to Odisha's capital city Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh.
Over 50 others were also injured.