President Pranab Mukherjee condoles loss of lives in AP train mishap

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee today condoled the loss of lives, including that of a Karnataka MLA, in a collision between a truck and an express train in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

"I was saddened to learn of the collision between a truck and an express train in Anantapur in which several passengers, including Karnataka MLA, Venkatesh Nayak, lost their lives. I would like to convey my condolences to the families of the deceased and my sincere wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured," the Presidents aid in his message to ESL Narasimhan, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh.

He express confidence that the state government and other authorities will provide all possible assistance to the bereaved families as well as the injured.

"On this tragic occurrence, my thoughts and prayers go out for the people of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka," Mukherjee said.

Nayak, a Congress MLA, was among six people killed when a granite-laden truck rammed into Bangalore-Nanded Express train after breaking the gate at a level crossing in Anantapur in the wee hours yesterday.