Politicians face slogans by angry families at hospital
AMRITSAR: Chaos and heartrending scenes prevailed at the Amritsar Civil Hospital and Guru Nanak Dev Hospital as those injured in the Dussehra disaster at Jaura Phatak (level crossing) arrived with their shocked relatives in tow.
People were seen crying and raising slogans against the state government, police and the district administration for lapses in making arrangements that led to the tragedy. Most of the victims are migrant labourers who had gathered to watch the festivities. Since the incident site is in a congested area, ambulances had a tough time reaching.
A steady stream of the injured continued till well past 10pm in both hospitals, where police were deployed in large numbers to maintain order. Civil hospital senior medical officer Dr Rajinder Arora said, “At least 80 patients were brought here. Of them, 40 succumbed to injuries. The condition of 25 patients is very serious.”
The hospital authorities requisitioned the services of nearly 100 doctors from other institutions in Amritsar and neighbouring districts to cope with the rush of patients. Ram Singh, a migrant labour er who stayed near the accidents ite,wa sin tears at the civil hospital. He said his daughter Ku sum, nephew Ne etu, sister Ni rm ala and si ste r’ sd aug the r-in-law died on the spot.
He said he lifted dismembered body parts of his family members with his hands.
Navjot Kaur Sidhu, the wife of Congress minister and Amritsar (East) MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu, arrived at the civil hospital but she had to face the ire of the people and beat a has ty retreat when relatives started raising slogans against her. She was chief guest at the Dussehra function.
Amritsar MPG urj it Aujla,w ho reached the civil hospital, said, “Action will be taken against erring officials.”
Jaskaran Singh, a resident of Jaura Phatak, said Saurabh Ma dan, whose mother is Congress councillor Vijay Madan, had arranged the Dussehra celebrations. “Action must be taken against him,” he said.
Amritsar mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu confirmed that the function was organised by Ma dan.