Hours after a second train in four days derailed on Wednesday, Prabhu tweeted that he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi "taking full moral responsibility" and that Modi "has asked me to wait".

"I am extremely pained by the unfortunate accidents, injuring passengers and loss of precious lives," he added.

Prabhu said that in less than three years as Minister, "I have devoted my blood and sweat for the betterment of the railways".

He said his ministry was trying to overcome "decades of neglect through systematic reforms in all areas leading to unprecedented investment and milestones".