Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav on Monday said that neither the Railway Ministry nor the Bihar Government could be blamed for the train tragedy, which occurred this morning at Dhamahra Ghat Railway Station, saying that the tragedy is reflective of the ignorance that prevails in remote areas of the country.
"In this incident, the railway ministry or the state government could not prevent anything-it occurred because the platform there is very small. It is convenient for regular passenger trains," Yadav said.
"The villagers are, usually, not sure about when the train will arrive and depart. They are simple people. They came there for a pilgrimage to the temple. In one way, the tragedy is reflective of the state of the country. Thus, there is no need to apply any logic to it; there is no need to bring law into it. What the Government can do, it should do," he added.
Additionally, Yadav said that the he would discuss the compensation package for the victims' families with Railway Minister Malikarjun Kharge at the earliest.
"The injured need to be looked after, and we will talk to the state government about it. I am very saddened about it that suddenly this tragedy occurred, which should not have happened," Yadav said.
Expressing profound grief over the loss of innocent lives in a railway accident in Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Monday asked the Indian Railways to provide a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh and jobs to families who had lost their loved ones.
Lalu Yadav said over 30 people have lost their lives in this tragedy, and added that the death toll is expected to rise.
"It's sad and heart-rendering news. Approximately, 35 people have died, the death toll may rise," Yadav told media here.
"We demand that the Railways give Rs. 10 lakh compensation and jobs to members of families of victims," he added.
Meanwhile, agitated locals have torched the Rajrani train, which ran over atleast 35 people, at Dhamahra Ghat Railway Station.
At least 35 people were killed in Bihar's Khagaria District when the Saharsa-Patna Rajrani Express ploughed into pilgrims at Dhamahra Ghat Railway Station on Monday morning.
The victims, mostly pilgrims, were standing on the railway tracks at a station in Katyani Sthan, a religious stopover, waiting to board another train when the train hit them.
The injured people have been rushed to the nearby hospitals in Saharsa.
There is complete chaos at the accident site as agitating people were holding protest against railway officials in the station.
