Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives of pilgrims in a train accident in Bihar and appealed for calm in the area to allow relief and rescue operations could be carried out without any hindrance.
The Prime Minister has directed the Railway Ministry to deploy all available resources for rescue and relief operations, a PMO statement said.
"The Prime Minister has expressed deep sorrow and shock at the loss of lives of pilgrims caused by the accident at Katyani Sthan, in Khagaria District, Bihar," it said.
Singh has "appealed for calm in the area so that the relief and rescue operations can be carried out without any hindrance," the statement said.
A speeding express train ran over devotees waiting on tracks to stop it, leaving 35 people dead and triggering angry protests by locals who attacked the train driver and set afire a coach besides the engine of another train at Dhamara Ghat Station this morning.
