‘Extremely Anguished’: PM Modi, Rlys Min on Train Killing Migrants
“All possible assistance required is being provided,” said the PM.
A freight train ran over 14 migrant labourers in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district on Friday, 8 May. Five others have also been injured in the incident and have been shifted to the Aurangabad Civil Hospital, news agency ANI reported.
According to reports, the deceased labourers were sleeping on the rail tracks. An official at the Karmad police station told PTI that the workers, who were walking to Bhusawal from Jalna, were returning to Madhya Pradesh.
The incident took place around 5:15 am between Jalna and Aurangabad of Nanded Division of South Central Railway.
PM Narendra Modi reacted to the same and said, “Extremely anguished by the loss of lives due to the rail accident in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Have spoken to Railway Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and he is closely monitoring the situation. All possible assistance required is being provided.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that ‘we should be ashamed’. “I am shocked at the news of the killing of the laborers and brothers due to the crushing of the goods train. We should be ashamed of the treatment being done to our nation builders. My condolences to the families of those killed and pray for the early recovery of the injured,” he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that he will assure that ‘all possible assistance’ is provided to those affected. He said, “Pained beyond words at the loss of lives due to a rail accident in Maharashtra. I have spoken to Railway Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, concerned authorities in the central govt and railway administration to ensure all possible assistance. My condolences with the bereaved families.”
Minister of Railways and Commerce Piyush Goyal, too, put out a tweet saying, “Today at 5:22 am, there was sad news of sleeping workers being run over by a goods train between Badnapur and Karmad stations of Nanded Division. Relief work is going on, and orders for inquiries have been given. I pray to God for the peace of departed souls.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the incident extremely ‘tragic and unfortunate’. In a tweet he said, “The Rail accident in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district is extremely tragic and unfortunate. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident.I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
AIMIM Member and Aurangabad MP Imtiaz Jaleel said, “If the government does not want more blood on its hand then they should urgently arrange for moe trains and buses for these labourers to reach home.”
“I would not call this an accident but would call it a murder, because the country knows that several migrant workers have been waiting for the the last one-and-a-half months that some provision will be made to take them home. We’ve been requesting the government again and again that some provision should be made,” said Imtiaz.
“They knew they couldn’t walk on the roads, because of the lockdown, and so have been walking through, hills and rivers hoping that somewhere they will find a means of transport,” he added.
“Just like they planned several flights been 7 and 16 May to get stranded Indians from other countries, has the Railways done something like that for the migrant workers?” he asked.
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, reacted to the unfortunate incident and said, “It is most heart wrenching to know several migrant workers were crushed to death by a train in Aurangabad. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May they find strength in this terrible time.”
Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and Supriya Sharma also reacted to the same.
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