Screen facing tracks LED to high death toll?

AMRITSAR: The organisers’ idea to install a LED screen facing the railway tracks is being seen as a major reason behind the high death toll if not the tragedy at all, near Jaura Phatak in Amritsar on Friday. Main organiser Saurabh Madaan Mithu, who has gone underground since, had reportedly installed a big LED screen facing the railway tracks to facilitate more people watch the event.“If the LED screen was installed on the other side, this incident could have been averted or the death toll probably would have been much less,” said Manmohan Singh, who was an eyewitness of the mishap.

Family of Dalbir Singh, who played Ravan’s role and died while trying to saving others, also blamed the organiser for installing LED near the tracks which attracted the crowds.

Eyewitnesses said crowd shifted to the track where the mishap took place after a train crossed the other track minutes before. “The first train was slow, while the second train was in speed. The sound of the horn got lost in the din of firecrackers,” one Pawan Sharma said. He also said Ravan’s effigy was to set afire between 5pm to 5.30pm, but event got delayed as the VIP guests arrived late.

Ramesh Kumar, an eyewitness, said railways never gave permission to hold Dussehra event here. “Last year, the Dussehra event was not held there for want of permission, but this year it did take place without the railways permission,” he said. Except last year, the Dusshera event is being organised at the site for 29 years. He said, “In the past, announcements were made from the stage asking people to keep away from the tracks, but this time no it was not done.