Ashwani Lohani appointed as new chairman of the Railway Board

"Mr Mittal's resignation has been accepted", a railway official told the Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity.

The administrative head of India's railways, AK Mittal, has resigned after two train derailments in five days in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Railway Minister had earlier directed to fix responsibility for the Utkal Express accident. However, as claimed by latter, the matters had reached beyond the Ministry and there was a pressure from PMO to act, stated the souces. "Hon'ble PM has asked me to wait", said Prabhu.

"New India envisioned by PM Modi deserves a Railway which is efficient and modern".

In a series of tweet, Prabhu wrote, "I am extremely pained by the unfortunate accidents, injuries to passengers and loss of precious lives. I promise that is the path, on which Railways is progressing now". In the last five years, almost 53 per cent of the 586 train accidents were due to derailments.

Boko Haram Uses More and More Children as "Human Bombs" in Nigeria
According to him, the Boko Haram terror group "has sometimes, but not always, claimed responsibility for those attacks".

The Congress said in the past three years, 28 accidents had taken place, leaving 259 people dead and 973 injured. On August 19, at least 20 passengers were killed and over 100 injured after 14 coaches of the Utkal Express derailed near Muzzafarnagar.

Prabhu offered to resign hours after 10 coaches and engine of the Delhi-bound Kaifiyat Express derailed in Auraiya district of Uttar Pradesh. Investigations are on to probe the actual causes of both the accidents.

Following these accidents, the government has also initiated few some steps according to reports, the railway has evacuated many employees and has sent several officials on leave.

In July, Mital became the first Railway Board chairman in history to be granted a two-year extension.

The reproduction of the story/photograph in any form will be liable for legal action.