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Railway safety panel set up

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today announced the setting up of a commission for railway safety keeping in view the ''seriousness'' of yesterday's train accident in West Bengal.

Asked to comment on Railway Minister Nitish Kumar's desire to step down on moral grounds, Vajpayee told newspersons in New Delhi that he had advised him not to take any step in haste. ''I have asked him to come here in the evening so that we can discuss the matter,'' he said.

The prime minister said the reports of senior railway officials not reaching the accident site immediately were incorrect. ''The site of the accident is very difficult to reach. Nitish Kumar could reach there faster as he had approached the site from Bagdogra,'' Vajpayee said.

Vajpayee said prima facie the cause of the accident was negligence.

UNI

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