Prabhu tweets about rail safety commitments after mishap claims 22

At least 22 feared dead and over 150 injured as Janata Express derails

GN Bureau | March 20, 2015


#suresh prabhu   #janata express accident   #janata express   #dehradun varanasi express  

Neglect of past or limited budget resource can't be the reason for accidents but we must modernise crumbling infrastructure, said union railway minister Suresh Prabhu after a major train accident near Rae Bareli district in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.

Around 22 people are feared dead, while over 150 are believed to be severely injured as two coaches of the Dehradun-Varanasi Janata Express derailed on Friday morning.

According to reports, a brake failure is suspected. The engine overshot the signal and two compartments were derailed. One of the coaches, which was a general compartment, has been crushed by the impact.

Railways have ordered an inquiry and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of those killed in the accident. While Rs 50,000 will be given to those injured seriously, Rs 20,000 will be given to people with minor injuries.

The railway minister in his tweet mentioned about prioritising safety as a thrust area and improving ageing infrastructure.

“This budget I focused on safety as I feel saddened by loss of life and injuries to our valued passengers. We must modernise crumbling infrastructure,” he tweeted.

“Local officials and Rail GM, DRM safety personnel and medical teams are constant touch with me. We are investing much more money in safety. My colleague MOS is rushing there too. Ordered enquiry the report will be in public domain soon. Ex gratia announced. I am monitoring action.”
 

Comments

 

Other News

Cabinet passes resolution applauding PM on term record

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday passed a resolution marking June 10, 2026, as a historic milestone in the journey of Indian democracy applauding Narendra Modi for becoming the longest-serving elected PM of the country. By establishing a record of 4,399 days of continuous service as an elected PM, he has s

Testing the teachers, moving the goalposts

A teacher was appointed in 1999, before the Right to Education (RTE) Act came into force, and appointed under the rules that existed at that time. She gave the necessary test, passed it, passed the interview, and was appointed. Over the next 26 years, she taught thousands of children, faced transfer orde

`Focus on infra, reforms, digital connectivity has created strong foundation for growth`

In a step towards the operationalisation of the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA), union minister of commerce & industry Piyush Goyal launched the BHAVYA Portal on Monday in New Delhi.   Addressing the gathering, Goyal said that the BHAVYA scheme will adopt a competit

Govt, RBI announce major reforms to attract FPI

The finance ministry on Friday announced a series of measures aimed at enhancing the ease of investment for individual Persons Resident Outside India (PROIs) and Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs), and to attract stable long-term foreign capital flows.   Building on the recent in

Lessons in climate adaption from world’s largest inhabited river island

Majuli Island, perched between the Brahmaputra River to the south and east, the Subansiri River to the west, and a branch of the Brahmaputra to the north, has been severely affected by recurrent flooding and intense riverbank erosion. Despite its global importance in acquiring UNESCO tentative status for

Careless whispers and the impossible trinity

Time can never mend, the careless whispers of …    As the RBI marches ahead, for the upcoming monetary policy meeting this June, whispers from the corridors echo around several policy options to defend the rupee – by deploying forex reserves, raising in





Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter