Speeding train ploughs through festival crowd

AMRITSAR: A speeding train ran over a crowd watching fireworks at a religious festival in northern India yesterday, killing at least 58 people and injuring dozens more.

The train failed to stop after the accident. Police Commissioner S.S. Srivastava said 58 bodies had been recovered.

Reports said two trains arrived from the opposite direction on separate tracks at the same time, giving little opportunity for people to escape.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Have asked officials to provide immediate assistance that is required.”

A witness said the train did not even sound its whistle as it sped past the site, where hundreds were watching the burning of a demon effigy during the Hindu festival of Dussehra.

As the effigy was lit and the fireworks started, a crowd retreated towards railroad tracks while observing the event.

Another witness said the victims did not realise a train was coming because the fireworks were too loud. At least 50 people were admitted to a government-run hospital.

While accidents are common on India’s sprawling rail network, Friday’s was among the deadliest in recent years.

In 2016, 146 people were killed when a train slid off railway tracks in eastern India.