Stress more on safety rather than bullet trains: MPs

Serious concern was voiced in Rajya Sabha on Friday over the train mishap in Uttar Pradesh which claimed over 30 lives, with members stressing that government's priority should be to ensure passenger safety rather than talking about running bullet trains.

Pramod Tiwari (Congress) raised the issue and sought a reply from Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on the incident and the compensation being granted to the passengers.

"Give safety and security first to the people rather than talking about running bullet trains," Tiwari said.

Associating with his concern, Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said the incident was not only unfortunate but serious as it had caused a high death toll.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha has rushed to the spot to oversee rescue and relief operations.

At least 31 people were killed and around 150 others injured when the engine and two adjoining coaches of the Dehradun-Varanasi Janta Express derailed near Bachrawan

Railway Station in Rae Bareli district. Officials feared casualties could go up.