New Delhi: Taking responsibility for the recent spate of train derailments, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had offered to step down, but was asked to wait by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Prabhu was facing fire after the Utkal Express derailment in Muzaffarnagar on Saturday killed 23 passengers and injured over 60. Fourteen coaches of the train, which runs on the Puri-Haridwar-Kalinga route, had derailed at Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar.
Earlier in the day, Railway Board Chairman AK Mittal had tendered his resignation, which Prabhu was yet to accept.
Prabhu had directed the Railway Board Chairman to fix responsibility after the Muzaffarnagar incident. He also said that he would not allow laxity in operations by the Railway Board.