New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) A "grieved" Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday announced monetary assistance of Rs.2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs.50,000 each to the seriously injured in the train accident in West Bengal.

"The prime minister is grieved to learn of the tragedy today (Friday) morning," a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

He has "announced an ex-gratia assistance of Rs.2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs.50,000 each to the seriously injured", the statement said.

Manmohan Singh asked the railways and other authorities to ensure that all assistance was provided to the bereaved families, the injured and other passengers of the Gyaneshwari Express that met with the accident early Friday.

At least 20 passengers were killed and over 100 injured when 13 coaches were derailed and five of them were hit by a goods train coming from the opposite direction at Jhargram about 150 km from Kolkata.

Mamata Announces Rs 5 lac Compensation for Families of Dead 

Jhargram (West Bengal), May 28 (IANS) The railways have announced a compensation of Rs.500,000 to each of the families of the dead passengers and jobs for one member of the bereaved families following the train accident that left 20 dead and over 100 injured near here Friday.

"We will give compensation of Rs.500,000 as ex-gratia to all the families whose members have passed away in the accident. We will also give jobs to one member of the bereaved families," Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said at the accident site. Jhargram is about 155 km from Kolkata.

At least 20 people were killed and over 100 injured when the engine and 13 coaches of a Mumbai-bound passenger train derailed and were hit by a speeding goods train.

Banerjee said the railways will also pay compensation of Rs.100,000 to the injured besides taking full care of their treatment.

She said apart from the ex-gratia, the injured and families of the dead could avail of the compensation amount to be decided by the railway tribunal.