Manali: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and President A P J Abdul Kalam on May 15 condoled the death of passengers in a fire abroad the Frontier Mail near Ludhiana in Punjab.

Expressing his sympathies to the families of those killed in the tragedy, Vajpayee said that an enquiry is being conducted into the cause of the accident.

On being asked whether it could be sabotage, the Prime Minister said it will come out in the enquiry.

"We hope in future there are no such train accidents," he said, adding people should take more safety measures while travelling in trains.

He said some reports suggested that the fire in the train could be due to a cigarette or short-circuit.

Kalam also expressed "shock and grief" over the loss of life in the tragedy.

Conveying his condolence to members of the bereaved families, he wished speedy recovery to those injured in the accident.

He said the grief caused by the tragedy is shared by the entire nation.

As many as 38 people were charred to death and 13 others injured when four coaches caught fire at Ladhowal railway station, about 10 km from Ludhiana, in the wee hours of May 15.

PTI