New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the tragic train accident in West Bengal. In a post on Twitter, he wrote, “Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. I have spoken to officials and reviewed the situation. Rescue operations are underway to assist those affected by the accident. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav is also reaching the spot.”
Moreover, following the PM’s post, the Prime Minister’s Office made an announcement. It said that a compensation amount of Rs 2 lakh will be given to the kin of each deceased from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, while those injured in the accident will be provided Rs 50,000.
The railway accident in West Bengal is saddening. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to officials and took stock of the situation. Rescue operations are underway to help the affected. The Railways Minister Shri…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 17, 2024
Amit Shah expressed grief over the incident
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed grief over the incident. In a post on Twitter, he said, “The train accident in New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal is very sad. My condolences to those who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate accident, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
Congress criticised BJP after the accident
Following the accident, the Congress party has criticised the BJP government. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera recalled similar incidents like the Coromandel Express accident. He remarked that running a Vande Bharat Express does not improve the overall condition of the railways. Referring to the Railway Minister’s visit to the accident site, Khera said, “This is a great favour he has done for the country. In the past, ministers used to resign over such incidents. Now, they only want praise for reaching the accident site.” He emphasised that priority should be given to rescuing and helping the victims.