President appealed to the members of the public to have patience in the coming period if the trains are late for their different destinations until the ongoing upgrade of the railways is completed
The train collision that took place in the central governorate of Sohag on Friday was the main topic of discussion between President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli and a host of cabinet ministers, including Health Minister Hala Zayed, Justice Minister Omar Marawan and Transport Minister Kamel el-Wazir Saturday.
The president received a series of reports about the accident, along with others on progress on the inquiry launched by the prosecution into the accident, Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Bassam Radi said.
The president also listened to an explanation about the response of their respective ministries to the accident, including the treatment of the injured as well as the compensation given to the families of the dead victims, Ambassador Radi added.
The president instructed the government to roll out the maximum care to the injured victims. He also asked the Ministry of Social Solidarity to offer a disability pension to the train passengers who had lost earning capacity because of the accident.
The president also asked the government to offer proper compensation to the families of the dead victims.
President Sisi gave directives to the government to take the necessary measures to ensure a balance between completing the “radical modernisation” of the railways nationwide and the operation of the trains, the spokesman said.
He added that the president highlighted the importance of raising safety and security standards for train passengers to the maximum.
The president also appealed to the members of the public to have patience in the coming period if the trains are late for their different destinations until the ongoing upgrade of the railways is completed.
Railways and transport officials, the president said, have to explain clearly the ongoing upgrade of the railways to the members of the public.
Completing the modernisation of the railways is the only way out of the type of accidents that took place on Friday, the president said.
Meanwhile, President Sisi received phone calls from a host of Arab leaders, including Tunisian President Kais Saied and King Abdullah II of Jordan, to offer him condolences on the death and injury of Egyptian citizens in Friday’s train tragedy.
President Sisi expressed appreciation for Tunisian support, which reflects the solid and extended relations between the two countries.
The Egyptian leader also expressed appreciation for King Abdullah’s condolences. He underscored the special relations between the peoples of Egypt and Jordan, Ambassador Radi said.
