Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk: At least 50 people celebrating Dussehra were killed after two trains coming from opposite directions ran over hundreds standing on railway tracks in Amritsar this evening.
The trains were crossing each other when Ravan’s effigy was being burnt; the people who were hit reportedly could not see or hear the trains due to the exploding crackers.
The Ravana effigy was very close to the railway tracks at Joda Phatak in Amritsar.
“Two trains came from the opposite direction at the same time giving little opportunity to people to escape,” officials said.
“There are more than 50 casualties. We are evacuating people, injured taken to the hospital”, said SS Shrivastava, Commissioner of Police, Amritsar.
Witnesses said the dead included children. There were reportedly around 700 people at the accident spot, according to news agency IANS. At least 60 people have been hospitalised.
An eyewitness said no alarm was raised when the train was approaching and blamed the administration. “The administration and the Dussehra committee are at fault… they should have made sure that the train halts or slows down,” the eyewitness told ANI.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has said he is rushing to Amritsar to personally supervise relief and rescue efforts. He has asked all government and private hospitals to stay open. “My government will give Rs. 5 lakh to kin of each deceased and free treatment to injured in government and private hospitals. District authorities have been mobilised on war footing,” he tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh have also promised all possible assistance.
Leader of opposition in Punjab Harpal Singh Cheema tweeted, “My heart goes out to the bereaved family members who lost their loved once in Amritsar train accident. At this unfortunate event we stand with the family and pray for the departed soul.”
Area legislator and Local Bodies Minister Navjot Sidhu’s wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu was the Chief Guest at the Dussehra event where the accident occurred, according to IANS.
