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| Steps taken to beef up security in trains: Lalu | | | NEW DELHI:
Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Friday said that a slew of measures are being taken to beef up security in Pakistan-bound trains in the wake of explosions in Samjhauta Express that left 68 people dead.
His Ministry is taking steps to strengthen and modernise the Railway Protection Force (RPF) besides increasing number of sniffer dogs and explosive detection devices, he said in a suo motu statement in Lok Sabha on the blasts in Delhi-Attari Link Express.
CCTVs and smart video cameras are being installed at all sensitive stations, Prasad said adding existing vacancies are being filled to augment manpower in the RPF.
Intensive training is being given to RPF to enhance its professional competence and efficiency, the minister said.
"Steps like having only reserve accommodation in these trains, identification of individual passengers and their luggage before boarding the train and permitting excess baggage in a separate compartment are also being taken," he said.
He said the Bomb Disposal Squad had recovered three suitcases from the accident site near Panipat containing Improvised Explosive Devices and kerosene and petrol.
A statutory inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Northern Circle, into the Samjhauta Express blasts is under progress, the minister said.
Prasad said that considering the seriousness of the incident, he had announced ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured which is more than the normally payable amount.
He said compensation up to Rs 4 lakh to the affected will be additionally payable by the Railway Claims Tribunal as per the extant rules.
"I have also ordered free rail services for relatives travelling for identification of the dead and for transportation of bodies back," Prasad told the House.
He said rescue efforts were launched on a war-footing with the help of fire-fighting and medical relief teams of the Railways and local administration after the blasts.
"I myself went to the site of the accident and reviewed relief and rescue measures," he said.
Continuous efforts are being made for identification of the dead and for bringing relatives of the victims to India in coordination with Ministries of External Affairs, Home Affairs and local police," Prasad said.
Opposition members demanded a discussion on the issue saying the matter needed to be discussed.
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