Imran Khan extends condolences on train tragedy
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the train accident near Amritsar, India, and was praised by social media users from both Pakistan and India.
On his official twitter account, @ImranKhanPTI, Khan posted: ‘Saddened to learn of the tragic train accident in Amritsar India. Condolences go to the families of the deceased.’
Within four hours, his tweet had more than 600 comments, 3,200 retweets and 14,500 likes. Khan’s tweet also brought many social media users from both sides of the border closer over this tragedy.
Tweep @jaideepwadali, who hails from Amritsar, responded to Khan’s tweet and wrote: ‘We are with the people affected, being from same city. Thanks for your words Imran sir.’
@Waqas_amjad, a tweep based in Lahore, Pakistan, wrote: ‘Nothing is more than humanity. May Almighty give patience to their families. Love and respect from across the border.’
The man who played the character of demon king Ravana at the Ram Leela at Joda Phatak was among those killed in the train accident.
After he enacted the role of Ravana, Dalbir Singh, in his twenties, was watching the effigy burning from the tracks when he, along with 60 others, was run over by a train. He has an infant daughter.
A friend of Dalbir’s said that on seeing the speeding train approaching, Dalbir had rushed towards them to save them. ‘Dalbir was able to push seven to eight people away from the tracks. But there was something else in store for him as the train ran over him, killing him on the spot,’ he said.