New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday mourned the death of several passengers in Odisha’s Balasore train accident and said that questions with the government can wait till Sunday as rescue and relief is an immediate task.
Party leader Sonia Gandhi also mourned the death of the passengers in Balasore.
“I am most pained and anguished by the terrible train disaster in Odisha. I extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to all the bereaved families,” Sonia Gandhi, who is the Chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Kharge also mourned the death of the passengers in the train accident and said the party has many questions to ask the Prime Minister and the Railway Minister but those can wait since the immediate task is of rescue and relief. In a statement, Kharge said, “At this moment of grave national tragedy on account of the terrible train disaster in Odisha, I have instructed the entire Congress party organisation to extend all possible and needed help.”
Kharge said that a number of Congress leaders from different states have either already reached or will soon be reaching Balasore.
“I once again extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. We have many questions to ask of the Prime Minister and the Railway Minister but those can wait since the immediate task is of rescue and relief,” the Congress chief said.
Echoing the views of Kharge, Congress General Secretary Communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh said, “The rail crash in Odisha is truly horrendous. It is a matter of the greatest anguish. It reinforces why safety should always be the foremost priority in the functioning of the rail network. There are many legitimate questions that need to be raised but that should wait till tomorrow.”
The remarks of the Congress leaders came after 261 people died in a train accident near Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Odisha on Friday evening. Over 900 people have also been injured and are admitted in several hospitals.