Taking serious note of a spate of train accidents recently, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has called an emergency meeting of general managers of all 17 Zones here on Tuesday to review safety measures.
The meeting is also expected to discuss an action plan and implementation strategy to make rail travel safer for passengers, sources said on Sunday. “Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu has expressed his displeasure over the series of train mishaps recently. He has convened a meeting all general managers of 17 zonal Railways on September 15 to review <g data-gr-id="20">safety related</g> issues,” sources said. Prabhu along with his junior minister Manoj Sinha and full Railway Board will address the meeting, they said adding, “The Minister has been emphasising on zero accident mission and giving
top priority to safety.”
Meanwhile, Prabhu, who was on week-long tour to Japan and South Korea returned to the capital on
Sunday, sources said. Of late, Railways safety record has come under question with <g data-gr-id="22">spate</g> of train accidents.
Two British nationals were killed and 10 others injured on Saturday when three coaches of a toy train that was carrying a group of tourists from Britain derailed near Parwanoo between the Kalka and Taksal station. Earlier the same day, two passengers were killed and seven others injured when nine coaches of <g data-gr-id="21">Mumbai bound</g> Duranto Express from Secunderabad derailed near Kalaburgi in Karnataka on Saturday wee hours.
Late last month, a speeding granite-laden truck rammed into Bangalore-Nanded Express train after breaking the closed gate at a level crossing in Anantapur district on August 24 killing six persons and injuring two. On August 4, 29 people were killed when two express trains passing each other derailed while crossing a railway bridge struck by flash floods in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh, sending 17 bogies and one engine tumbling into a rain-swollen river.