Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Modi government on Monday following the train derailment in Andhra Pradesh, saying the enthusiasm shown in flagging off trains with fanfare should also be shown in action towards railway safety and the well-being of passengers.
Kharge went on to express condolences to the affected families and wished for a swift recovery of the injured, while also urging Congress workers to provide any necessary assistance.
According to officials, at least 14 people were killed and 50 others suffered injuries after two trains collided on the Howrah-Chennai line in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday evening.
Taking to his official account on X, Kharge said, “Extremely saddened to learn about the train derailment tragedy in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, where precious lives have been lost and several people have suffered injuries. Our deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved. We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said and requested Congress workers to provide every possible help.
Kharge highlighted that the government’s claims of safety, post the Balasore train tragedy, seem to have “evaporated in thin air.”
“The same enthusiasm of flagging trains with fanfare and propaganda should also be shown in action towards railway safety and the well-being of crores of daily passengers,” Kharge added.
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The collision occurred between Kantakapalle and Alamanda railway stations when the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger Special train hit the Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train from the rear, resulting in several coaches derailing.
Balasore train tragedy
The Balasore train tragedy, which took place on June 2, 2023, near Odisha’s Bahanaga Bazar station involving three trains – the Coromandel Express, SMVT Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a freight train – left 292 passengers dead and over 1,000 injured.
The accident is said to be one of the deadliest rail accidents in India in nearly three decades, which was due to a fault in an electronic signalling system.
(With PTI Inputs)