New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs.2 lakh for the next of kin of those who died in the Madhya Pradesh train accident, an official statement said.

This is in addition to the relief assistance already announced by the railways, it said. "A compensation of Rs.50,000 has also been sanctioned from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for the seriously injured in the derailments."

At least 27 people were killed and about 70 injured as two trains, the Kamayani Express and Janata Express, derailed on Tuesday midnight within a gap of 15 minutes near a bridge in Madhya Pradesh, sending 21 coaches plunging into the rain-swollen Machak river.

(IANS)