A day after two accidents, train passengers carry on as usual

11:57 PM in

A day after two major rail accidents, most people travelling on trains were not deterred, terming rail travel 'comfortable and safe', though some attacked the government for not taking enough measures for passengers' safety.

'We have heard about the accidents, it is bad, but the fact is that these accidents do not occur every day, so I believe that the railways are safe,' Kumar Rasik, who was waiting for his train to Alwar at the Old Delhi railway station, told IANS.

'Yes, accidents occur at times, but that is unfortunate. We cant stop travelling because of the accidents,' said Shah Alam, who had come to see off his relatives.

At least 69 people died while 196 others were injured when the Kalka Mail from Howrah met with an accident near Malwan station in Uttar Pradesh. The reason for the accident has not yet been established.

In another accident, at least 100 people were injured when the Guwahati-Puri Express was derailed after a suspected explosion near Ghograpara in western Assam's Nalbari district.

A rescue train from the accident site in Uttar Pradesh reached Old Delhi Railway Station Monday morning where the injured were either given first-aid or referred to hospitals.

'We saw those who came from the accident site in Uttar Pradesh. It is very moving, they could have been our relatives,' said passenger Sheela Devi, 'but the fact is that trains are the best mode to travel. So we leave it in God's hands.'

Some were more critical of the government's efforts to ensure safety of passengers.

'Of course, there is lapse in security measures, that is why there are so many accidents. Perhaps it is because there is no railway minister to take care of all this,' Rajesh Kumar, a student, said.