M A I N   N E W S

7 yrs later, Mukerian rail mishap victims’ kin to get jobs
Ajay Banerjee/TNS

New Delhi, July 23
More than seven years after 37 persons were killed in a train accident on the Jalandhar-Pathankot rail section in Punjab, their kin are set to get jobs promised by former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The Railways had all but forgotten the announcement made by Lalu in December 2004. In May this year, it even disowned it. Things would have been brushed under the carpet but for the alertness shown by MP from Punjab, Avinash Rai Khanna, who pointed out that the Railways was misleading Parliament.

On December 16, 2004, Jammu Tawi Express coming from Jammu and the DMU Jalandhar-Amritsar passenger train coming from Jalandhar collided head-on at 11.45 am just 10 km north of Mukerian in Hoshiarpur district. The accident left 37 passengers dead and 50 injured.

Clarifying its position on the promise of jobs for the kin of those dead or disabled, the Railways has informed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat “the file (for jobs) has been submitted for approval of competent authority”.

The Parliament’s office had to intervene after Avinash Rai Khanna shot off a letter on May 24 this year after the Railways disowned the promise. On May 18, the ministry had furnished information in Parliament that no such jobs on compassionate ground were on the anvil for the kin of those killed or disabled in the accident in Punjab in December 2004. Khanna not only pointed out to Lalu’s announcement, he cited a Parliament question in December 2005 that categorically mentioned that the announcement was indeed made by the Railway Minister. Actually, in September 2006 the Railways gave an assurance on fulfilling that announcement. The Railways has now clarified to the Parliament that its reply on May 18 this year was “erroneously furnished due to considerable lapse of time between the years 2006 and 2012”. “Regretting” the same, it has blamed a “mix-up various files” for the error. It further says “the error was inadvertent and there was no intention to mislead the House. Correct statement will be laid on the floor of the House at the first available opportunity”.

Khanna, how hails from Hoshairpur, is livid at the development. He has sought action against officials who tried to mislead the House.

Long wait

• December 16, 2004: Jammu Tawi Express coming from Jammu and the DMU Jalandhar-Amritsar passenger train from Jalandhar collide head-on at 11.45 am, about 10 km north of Mukerian in Hoshiarpur district
• The accident leaves 37 passengers dead and 50 injured
• Then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav promises jobs for the victims’ kin, but no further action taken
• The Railways has blamed a ‘mix-up of various files’ for the ‘inadvertent error’