Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi condole death of school children in Medak, Telangana

New Delhi:  Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday expressed their condolences to the families of the 19 school children who were killed when a train rammed into their school bus at an unmanned level crossing in Telangana.

“Smt Sonia Gandhi has expressed deep grief at the accident in Medak where several children lost their lives. Extending her condolences to the families, Smt. Sonia Gandhisaid that her prayers were with them in this moment and expressed the hope that all necessary steps are taken to ensure full road and rail safety, “said an AICC press release.

"My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost young children in the terrible accident in Medak. We must make rail and road safety a priority to ensure that such accidents do not take place and innocent lives are not lost," said Rahul Gandhi in a statement.

At least 19 students were killed and some 20 other children injured when the bus of a private school was rammed by a train at Masayipet, about 70 km from Hyderabad.

Maintain restraint and brotherhood; Sonia Gandhi urges Telangana Congress leaders

New Delhi: Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi urged the Congress leaders from the Telangana region to maintain restraint, brotherhood and cordial relations with people of Andhra and Rayalseema regions.

A group of Congress leaders including Union Ministers S Jaipal Reddy, Balram Naik, MPs Ponnam Prabhakar, S Rajaiah, P Govardhana Reddy and a large contingent of state ministers from the region called on Sonia Gandhi to thank her for the Telangana decision. They also had met the Prime Minister. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was also at 10 Janpath, when the Telangana leaders visited there.

“You have to maintain restraint because some people may be aggrieved over the decision. Maintain brotherhood with people of other regions with whom you have lived for so long. Maintain a cordial relationship and give support to people from the other regions, who have settled in the Telangana region,” urged Sonia Gandhi to the Congress leaders.

Congress MP Rajaiah said that Sonia Gandhi was keen that people from non-Telangana regions living in Hyderabad and other districts of the Telangana region are given support and have a sense of belonging. “We thanked Sonia Gandhi for the decision on Telangana saying it would be a red-letter day and assured her that we will co-operate with our brothers from other two regions. The fact is that they have settled not only in Hyderabad but in all other nine districts of Telangana and are holding key posts there,” he said.

Another MP Ponnam Prabhakar said that Telangana leaders have also decided to form a Sadhbhavana Group and meet the legislators and MPs from other two regions seeking their cooperation in formation of the new state for which Congress Working Committee passed a resolution on Tuesday.