President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi led the nation in condoling the death of more than 120 people in the train tragedy.
“I am sad to learn about the accident in which many have lost their lives and a number of persons are injured. I am sure that the State Government is providing all possible assistance to the bereaved families as well as medical aid to the injured,” Mukherjee said in a message to Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik. Vice President Hamid Ansari too expressed grief over the loss of lives.
The Prime Minister condoled personally at a function and in a tweet he said, “Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.” Modi observed two-minute silence to condole the loss of lives at the Rail Vikas Shivir.
Modi said Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu is personally monitoring the situation and announced an ex-gratia of Rs2 lakh for the next of kin of those killed and Rs50,000 for those seriously injured in the mishap from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed deep pain over the loss of lives.
Sonia Gandhi in her condolence message said, “Words can’t describe the pain and anguish of those who lost their near and dear ones and the entire country stands in solidarity to share this unbearable sorrow.”
She also asked the local Congress unit to assist in the relief and rescue operations along with the authorities. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also condoled the loss of lives in the accident.
While Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced an ex-gratia of
Rs5 lakh will be paid to kin of the deceased, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cancelled a function to release a report card of his Government on completion of one year in office and expressed grief over the mishap.
lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Assam counterpart Sarbananda Sonowal expressed condolence to the bereaved families.