The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Monday expressed deep sorrow and shock at the loss of lives of pilgrims caused by the accident at Katyani Sthan in Bihar's Khagaria District.
Dr. Singh has directed the Ministry Railways to deploy all available resources in the area for rescue and relief operations.
He has also appealed for calm in the area so that the relief and rescue operations can be carried out without any hindrance.
At least 35 people were killed in Bihar's Khagaria District when the Saharsa-Patna Rajyarani Express ploughed into pilgrims at Dhamahra Ghat Railway Station on Monday morning.
The victims, mostly pilgrims, were standing on the railway tracks at a station in Katyani Sthan, a religious stopover, waiting to board another train when the train hit them.
The injured people have been rushed to the nearby hospitals in Saharsa.
There is complete chaos at the accident site as agitating people were holding protest against railway officials in the station.