New Delhi: Following two consequent disastrous incidents of trains derailing killing nearly 22 people and injuring more than 200 people in four days, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu taking full responsibility for the two incidents took to Twitter and offered his resignation that followed a meeting with PM Modi regarding the same.
“In less than three years as Minister, I have devoted my blood and sweat for the betterment of the Railways. Under the leadership of PM, tried 2 overcome decades of neglect thru systemic reforms in all areas leading 2 unprecedented investment& milestones. New India envisioned by PM deserves a Rlys which is efficient and modern. I promise that is the path, on which Rlys is progressing now. I am extremely pained by the unfortunate accidents, injuries to passengers and loss of precious lives. It has caused me deep anguish. I met the Hon’ble Prime Minister @narendramodi taking full moral responsibility. Hon’ble PM has asked me to wait,” Railway Minister Prabhu has written on his Twitter account.
Due to the negligence of Railway maintenance workers, the Kalinga Utkal Express train travelling from Puri to Haridwar on Saturday derailed at Khatauli near Muzaffarnagar which injured 150 members killing 22 in the accident. About fourteen train bogies reportedly derailed from the track due to the ongoing repair and maintenance work.
Following an investigation into the derailment incident carried out by the Government Railway Police personnel who visited the accident site and also spoke to the locals staying nearby, the Railways sent three top officials including secretary level Railway Board official on leave, transferring one officer, suspended four officers.
The second consequent derailing accident after the Kalinga Utkal Express on Saturday, the Kaifiyat Express train near the Auriaya derailed on early Wednesday morning with nine coaches derailing from the track injuring 70 persons in the incident. The train met with an accident after a sand carrying dumper over turned on the road parallel to the railway track.
The accident is reported to occur around 2.40 am between the Pata and Achhalda railway stations. In a statement issued by the Railway Ministry said: “An unauthorised dumper broke the railway fence and hit the engine of Kaifiyat Express causing derailment”.
Railway officials in North Central Railway(NCR) said one coach overturned due to the sudden massive impact of the collision between the dumper and the train while eight other coaches derailed in the collision.