India train disaster: President Buhari grieves over loss of lives, condoles PM Modi

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Indian Prime Minister Modi.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep sorrow and regret over the Sunday train disaster in India that killed more than 100 passengers near Pukhrayan.

The President, who received the news of the train derailment and heavy loss of lives, expressed great sorrow and profound shock as he commiserates with the Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, and the families of the victims.

According to President Buhari, who spoke through a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, “the loss of human life on whatever scale, and anywhere, is bad enough,” adding that “the world becomes united in sorrow during such moments because our common humanity makes us a family.”

President Buhari said that the government and the people of Nigeria felt and shared the pains and the anguish of the families of the victims and all Indians.

The Nigerian leader prayed that God would comfort the grieving Asian nation.

Fourteen carriages of the Indore-Patna Express had derailed just after 03:00 local time on Sunday (21:30 GMT Saturday) near the city of Kanpur.

Rescuers are still trying to reach the injured and recover the dead from the twisted carriages.

The cause of the crash near the village of Pukhrayan is not yet known.  It was however reported by the Times of India quoting sources as saying a fracture in the track could have been to blame.

The death toll had been rising steadily all day and was expected to increase further. BBC reported.

Krishna Keshav, who was travelling on the train, told the BBC: “We woke with a jolt at around 3am. Several coaches were derailed, everybody was in shock. I saw several bodies and injured people.”

Most of the victims were located in two carriages near the engine which overturned and were badly damaged.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Anguished beyond words on the loss of lives due to the derailing of the Patna-Indore express. My thoughts are with the bereaved families.


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