Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

NHRC notices to state, railways

- Press Trust of India letterschd@hindustant­imes.com ■

NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notices to the railways and the Punjab government over the Amritsar accident in which 61 Dussehra revellers were killed when they were run over by a train while watching the festivitie­s.

Issuing the notices, the commission observed that it cannot be said to be a “sane act” by people to sit on railway tracks, but at the same time, the “negligence on the part of the district authoritie­s is apparent” behind this “bizarre and horrific incident”.

The commission issued notices to the state’s chief secretary and the chairman of the Railway Board seeking detailed reports in the matter in four weeks, an NHRC spokespers­on said.

The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports that many people died on the spot and several others got seriously injured in Amritsar, where several people watching Dussehra celebratio­ns from the railway tracks were mowed down by a passenger train on October 19.

“It seems that the local authoritie­s and the organisers did not properly manage the crowd, gathered to watch the Dussehra celebratio­ns. It was the responsibi­lity of the state to provide proper safety and protection to the citizens during the event. If it is true, as reported in some sections of the media, that the railway authoritie­s were not informed about the event, it indicates towards highly negligent attitude of the authoritie­s responsibl­e. This is a case of serious violation of human rights,” the NHRC said in a statement.

The state government is expected to provide all details to the NHRC regarding disburseme­nt of relief and rehabilita­tion to the aggrieved families as well as informatio­n on the status of the treatment being provided to the injured.

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