60 dead as train runs into Dussehra crowd
AMRITSAR HORROR 95 injured; hundreds were watching effigies go up in flames when the tragedy struck; Capt orders probe, cancels Israel trip; state mourning today, offices, educational institutions shut
AMRITSAR: Tragedy struck at a Dussehra celebration in Amritsar on Friday when a speeding train ran over a festive crowd that spilled on to the tracks while watching the customary burning of a giant Ravana effigy. At least 60 people were killed and 95 injured in the accident, according to a senior government official.
Hundreds of people had gathered at an open ground near the manned crossing at Jaura Phatak, barely 70 metres from the Amritsar-Jalandhar double railway track where the celebrations were happening at around 7.15pm. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, the wife of Congress minister and Amritsar East legislator Navjot Singh Sidhu, was the chief guest at the event.
The crossing, 3km from Amritsar railway station, was closed for vehicular traffic, but people were spread out from the ground to the areas surrounding the tracks on both sides; many of them standing on the tracks.
The track was not cordoned off by the police or the local administration, eyewitnesses alleged. As the effigy started burning, and firecrackers inside it started going off, many pulled out their phones to capture a video of the scene. The noise of the firecrackers and the crowd seemed to have buried the sound of the train coming from Jalandhar.
As the train thundered across the track, crushing several revellers, the force was such that bodies were flung in all directions. It took some time for onlookers, even those whose view of the effigy was temporarily blocked by the passing train, to realise what happened.
“We didn’t hear the train coming. It had become dark and everyone was watching the effigy when the train suddenly appeared,” said Mintoo, a migrant labourer staying nearby. Most of the victims are feared to be migrant labourers.
Amritsar sub-divisional magistrate (I) Rajesh Sharma said 60 people were killed and at least 95 injured admitted to Amritsar hospital. Raveen Thukral, media advisor to chief minister Amarinder Singh, put the number of dead at 40, adding the toll could rise. The chief medical officer that Amritsar Civil hospital said doctors had treated at least 80 injured. Leaders across the political spectrum put out condolence messages and a state of mourning was declared in Punjab, where all government institutions will be shut on Saturday. The state government also announced ₹5 lakh compensation to the families of the dead, while the Centre announced an addition ₹2 lakh for grieving families.
Capt Amarinder said he was rushing to the spot to supervise rescue and relief operations. “District authorities have been mobilised on war footing,” Singh tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was extremely saddened by the mishap. “The tragedy is heart-wrenching,” he tweeted. “My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and I pray that the injured recover quickly. Have asked officials to provide immediate assistance that is required.”
Railways minister Piyush Goyal cancelled all his engagements in the US and said he was immediately returning to India.
AMRITSAR :A passenger train that mowed down scores of people watching the Dussehra celebrations near Jaura Phatak (level crossing) was inaudible to the crowd as the firecrackers in the Ravana effigy were at a crescendo on Friday evening.
“We didn’t hear the train coming. It had become dark and everyone was watching the effigy in flames when the train suddenly appeared,” said Mintoo, a migrant labourer staying in the vicinity. Most of the victims are migrant labourers. “Families have been wiped out,” he said.
The diesel multiple unit (DMU) train was coming from Hoshiarpur to Amritsar via Jalandhar as scheduled around 7pm. Eyewitnesses said normally the Ravana effigy is burnt earlier but this time it was delayed as the chief guest arrived late.
Padam Singh Dhingra, a businessman who stays nearby, said, “The Ravana effigy was scheduled to be burnt at 6.15pm but the chief guest, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who is the wife of Amritsar (East) MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu, came late so the programme was running behind schedule. It was past 7pm when the effigy was burnt after her speech.” There was no barricading near the railway tracks nor any alarm raised by the authorities or organisers, said other witnesses.
Last year, there was no Dussehra celebration at this venue as it is in a congested area. Vicky Thakur, another eyewitness, said, “This venue is unsuitable to hold such a big crowd.”
“The administration and the Dussehra committee are at fault, they should have raised an alarm when the train was approaching, They should have made sure that the train halts or slows down,” another witness told ANI.
Seconds before the DMU train passed by, another train from Amritsar to Howrah via Jalandhar crossed an adjoining track but did not cause any casualty. There are three tracks in the area. A boundary wall separates the dhobi ghat ground from the tracks. “It is dark and my son is missing,” said a woman.
Extremely saddened by the train accident in Amritsar. The tragedy is heartwrenching. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and I pray that the injured recover quickly. Have asked officials to provide immediate assistance that is required. NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister May God give strength to the bereaved and injured. Railways is providing all possible assistance at the site. I have cancelled all engagements in USA and immediately returning back to India. PIYUSH GOYAL, railways minister Rushing to Amritsar to personally supervise relief and rescue in tragic rail accident on Dussehra in Amritsar. My govt will give ₹5 lakh to kin of each deceased & free treatment to injured in govt and pvt hospitals. District authorities have been mobilised on war footing (sic). AMARINDER SINGH, Punjab chief minister, on Twitter