Government apathy has exposed poor railway safety: JDU

The Janata Dal (United) in Monday criticized Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu for the government's apathy on railway safety.

JD-U leader Rajeev Ranjan told ANI, "He has made a lot of promises for the safety of railways. This incident has exposed the government's apathy towards safety of railways. The reason behind such a big incident is track fracture."

At least 133 passengers were killed while more than 180 persons were injured, out of which nearly 50 are reported to be grievously wounded, in the worst train accident in recent years when 14 coaches of the Indore-Patna Express derailed near Pukhrayan of Kanpur Dehat district in Uttar Pradesh yesterday due to suspected rail fracture.

Most of the affected passengers of the Indore-Patna Express belong to Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

NDRF, police force and civil administration were engaged in relief work on war footing. Army is also assisting in rescue and other relief work.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has ordered an inquiry into the accident. Visiting the accident spot last evening, he asked officials to speed up rescue and relief work.

Prabhu also visited the Hallet Hospital in Kanpur where the injured are being treated. Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha supervised the relief works.