Anyone found guilty of negligence will be punished: Minister

SYLHET, June 26 (UNB): Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan said on Tuesday if investigation into Kulaura accident finds anyone guilty of negligence, then strict action will be taken against them.

He made the remark while talking to reporters after visiting people injured in the accident at Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital.

Five people were killed and 67 people injured when six coaches of Dhaka-bound 'Upaban Express' from Sylhet veered off the tracks at Baramchal in Kulaura upazila on Sunday.

Minister Sujan said Tk 0.1 million will be provided to each family of the deceased while those injured will receive Tk 10,000 each.

He said the government plans to upgrade railways from Akhaura to Sylhet on Dhaka-Sylhet route to dual gauge. A project was approved by the ECNEC in this regard, he said.

Replying to a question about allegations of negligence in the Sunday night accident, the Minister said a probe committee was formed to look into the matter.

"Strict action will be taken against anyone found involved in kind of negligence," the minister said.

A three-member probe body was formed to investigate the incident.