Patna-Indore Express tragedy 'may be a plot against Centre': Murli Manohar Joshi

New Delhi: Expressing condolences to the bereaved family members of the deceased in Patna-Indore Express derailment tragedy that left 100 dead and over 150 injured, BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi on Sunday demanded a probe into the incident while stating that it may be a plot against the Centre.

Joshi told ANI, "The reason behind 14 bogies getting turtle could be many because at times one or two bogies derail due to some jerk or due to some default in connecting link. But, in a go, if 14 coaches are being derailed then this creates a doubt that whether the incident happened because the railway tracks were broken or someone did it to defame the Railways Ministry of our country, whatever can be the reason, we demand a probe into the matter."

"And if the tracks are broken then the Railways Ministry should pay attention and get the tracks repaired or changed as soon as possible," he added.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have also offered their condolences to the bereaved kin of the victims.

The Railways have released helpline numbers for the people- Ujjain - 07342560906, Ratlam - 074121072, Orai - 051621072, Jhansi - 05101072, Pukhrayan - 05113270239, Varanasi - 05422503814.

A help desk has been set up at the Patna railway station to assist the family members of those onboard.