New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday condoled the death of 36 persons in a train accident in Andhra Pradesh.

"My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to the derailment of the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express. The tragedy is saddening," Modi tweeted.

"I pray for the speedy recovery of all those injured," he said.

Rajnath Singh said the accident was "extremely distressing" and said he was deeply pained over the loss of lives.

He said National Disaster Response Force teams had reached the spot to carry out rescue and relief operation.

Gandhi expressed her "expressed deep anguish and shock".

"Deeply saddened by the loss of lives," she tweeted.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said: "My heartfelt condolences to the families who lost loved ones.

"The government must take steps to ramp up railway safety as an urgent priority," he said on Twitter.

Over 50 others were injured when the Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailed at 11.30 p.m. on Saturday near Kuneru station. It was on way to Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh.