Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah calls Pahalgam attack 'intelligence failure'
Bengaluru, Apr 23 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said the Pahalgam terror attack was a "planned one" and claimed that it happened due to the Central government's "intelligence failure".
He also said he had asked the team of officials dispatched to Jammu and Kashmir to hire a special plane to bring back tourists from Karnataka stranded there.
"I feel this attack was a planned one. Whoever has done it, I condemn it. Terror attacks should not happen. Whichever caste or religion they are from, it is still the taking of a life. This is a major terror attack, which the Karnataka government strongly condemns," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
“I feel there is an intelligence failure of the Centre. In the past also the Pulwama terror attack had happened,” he claimed.
He said he would not agree to any compromise on security and safety, and stressed that terrorists should be neutralised.
He reiterated his strong condemnation of the Pahalgam attack, in which two tourists from Karnataka were among those killed.
"Already, I have sent a team of officials to Kashmir, including Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad. I have instructed them to hire a plane and bring the tourists safely back to the state. I had also asked them to bring the bodies of the two slain tourists in the same plane, but the Government of India has made arrangements to dispatch the bodies to the respective states," Siddaramaiah said.
The terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday claimed the lives of 26 people, largely tourists.
ಕಾಶ್ಮೀರದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರವಾಸಿಗರ ಮೇಲೆ ನಡೆದಿರುವ ಉಗ್ರರ ದಾಳಿಯನ್ನು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ತೀವ್ರವಾಗಿ ಖಂಡಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಪ್ರವಾಸಿಗರಲ್ಲಿ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ ರಾವ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಭರತ್ ಭೂಷಣ್ ಎಂಬುವರು ಮೃತಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ರಕ್ಷಣೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಇನ್ನಿತರ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳ ತಂಡವನ್ನು ಕಾಶ್ಮೀರಕ್ಕೆ ರವಾನಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಅಲ್ಲದೇ, ಕಾಶ್ಮೀರಕ್ಕೆ ತೆರಳಿರುವ… pic.twitter.com/KuRmMStw9X
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 23, 2025
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High-level inquiry committee set up to probe fire in Rajdhani Express: Railway Board
New Delhi (PTI): The West Central Railway Zone has constituted a high administrative grade-level inquiry committee to investigate the fire on the Thiruvananthapuram Central-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express on Sunday.
The fire erupted at 5.15 am in the B-1 passenger coach of the train between Vikramgarh Alot and Lunirichha stations under the Kota Railway division, one-and-a-half hours after it left the Ratlam Junction in Madhya Pradesh, according to an official. The fire also damaged the luggage brake and generator car behind the coach.
"The committee has been nominated by the general manager of West Central Railway (WCR). It comprises senior officers from the West Central Railway, Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, and RDSO (Research Designs and Standards Organisation)," the Railway Board said in a press note.
"Principal chief safety officer, WCR, has been appointed as the convener of the committee," it said, also mentioning other committee members such as principal chief electrical engineer, principal chief mechanical engineer, principal chief security officer from the WCR zone, and principal chief mechanical engineer from the Integrated Coach Factory, among others.
As per the provisions of the Accident Manual, the committee has been directed to complete the inquiry within the stipulated timeframe.
The Board stated that the committee will conduct a detailed examination of the causes of the incident, technical aspects and safety parameters so as to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.
"Indian Railways remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of passengers and is taking all necessary measures in this regard," it added.
