Amritsar train accident | Latest updates: Punjab announces State mourning

At least 61 people were killed on Friday evening after a crowd of Dussehra revellers that had spilled onto railway tracks while watching the burning of a Ravana effigy was run over by a train near Joda Phatak in Amritsar.

The injured were admitted to different hospitals in Amritsar.

The incident took place on Friday evening when at least 300 people were watching the 'Ravana dahan' at a ground adjacent to the tracks.

Dussehra tragedy in Amritsar | At least 61 killed as train runs over revellers

As the effigy was lit and fireworks went off, a section of the crowd started retreating towards the tracks where a large number of people were already standing to watch the event, officials had said.

Here are the latest updates:

 

1:00 pm

Residents stage protest at accident site

A day after a train mowed down over 60 Dussehra revellers, scores of people staged a sit-in on railway tracks in Amritsar on Saturday, demanding action against the erring officials and train driver and seeking adequate compensation for the victims.

The protesters raised slogans against the State government and demanded action against the train driver.

One of the protesters alleged the train passed through the area at a high speed and that the driver did not slow down the train despite the presence of a large crowd.

Later, police chased away the protesters when they tried to move towards residential areas from the railway tracks.

Police have barricaded the area to prevent the protesters from reassembling.

Local people gather at the scene of the accident along train tracks in Amritsar, on October 20, 2018.   | Photo Credit: PTI

 

"Why did the government not ensure proper security arrangements at the time of Dussehra festival? Why such function was allowed to take place near railway tracks?" Sujit Singh, one of protesters, asked.

Another protester demanded that the victims be given adequate compensation.

Some protesters blocked the GT Road near the train accident site. They also demanded government jobs for the kin of those killed.

A resident blamed Ms. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, the wife of Punjab Minister Navjot Sidhu who represents the area in the Assembly, for the tragedy.

"The tragic incident could have been averted, had Navjot Kaur Sidhu turned up at the venue on time and had the function not been delayed," said Deepak who works as a painter.

He said that every year, the effigy of Ravana was burnt between 5.30 p.m. and 6 p.m., but this year it could not happen as Ms. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who was the chief guest at the event, "got late". The effigy was burnt around 7 p.m. "Because of darkness, the tragedy occurred," he added.

According to villagers, the burning of Ravana effigy as part of Dussehra celebrations has been taking place at the same venue for over 20 years. But, what has been a source of joy and excitement to the young and the old for over two decades turned out to be a nightmare on Friday.

12:45 pm

Amrinder arrives in Amritsar; State mourning announced

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh arrived in Amritsar on Saturday, nearly 16 hours after at least 60 people were crushed to death by a train while watching the burning of a Ravana effigy in Amritsar.

The Chief Minister, accompanied by Punjab Congress president and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar, arrived on a special flight from New Delhi.

He immediately held a meeting with senior officers of the district administrations, Cabinet Ministers and Congress legislators.

The officers briefed him about the whole tragedy and the number of deaths and injuries.

The Punjab government has declared State mourning on Saturday.

The Chief Minister has ordered a probe into the incident. He announced immediate ex-gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed

12:30 pm

U.N. chief, Canadian PM, Russian President offer condolences

U.N. chief Antonio Guterres has expressed his deepest condolences to the families and friends of over 60 people who died in the accident, terming the incident as “tragic”.

“My heart goes to all in Amritsar following Friday’s tragic accident. Earlier this month, I was honoured to visit the Golden Temple and witnessed the warmth and generosity of the people. My deepest condolences to those who have lost family and loved ones,” Mr. Guterres said in a tweet.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also condoled the accident in which 39 of the total 61 people killed have been identified so far.

“My thoughts are with everyone who has lost a loved one in the tragic train crash in Amritsar, India. Canadians are keeping you in our hearts tonight & wishing all those injured a full recovery,” Trudeau said in a tweet.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday offered condolences to India on the train accident near Amritsar in Punjab, the Russian Embassy said.

According to the Russian embassy, Mr. Putin offered condolences to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the train accident. He conveyed his support to families of the victims of the train accident.

“I offer my deepest sympathies over tragic consequences of an accident on railways in the Punjab state. I ask to convey my words of sympathy and support to families and friends of the killed people and to wish the soonest recovery to those injured,” Putin said, according to the Russian embassy.

12:15 pm

Permission limited only to the ground: DCP Amrik Singh

Congress leader Mithu Madan, the organiser of the Dussehra event, said he had the permission of the local administration to hold the event. Meanwhile, DCP (City) Amrik Singh Powar told reporters that the permission was limited only to the ground where the Dussehra celebrations was being held. — Vikas Vasudeva

Punjab Police personnel at the scene of the accident along railroad tracks in Amritsar on October 20, 2018, after revellers who gathered on the tracks were killed by a moving train on Friday.   | Photo Credit: PTI

 

PTI adds...

Navjot Kaur Sidhu, former MLA and wife of Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, was the chief guest of the event.

The event was reportedly organised by Saurabh Madan, husband of Congress Councillor Vijay Madan. Posters of Navjot Singh Sidhu, his wife Ms. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, Councilor Saurbah Madan and his wife Vijay Madan were displayed at the event.

Opposition parties, including the Akali Dal, the BJP and the AAP have demanded strict action against those who gave permission for holding the event. They have also held the Congress-led Punjab government responsible for allowing the Dussehra celebrations near the railway track.

11:55 am

No permission granted: Amritsar Municipal Corporation

The Amritsar Municipal Corporation on Saturday said no permission was granted to hold Dussehra celebrations at ‘Dhobi ghat’ ground in Amritsar.

“Nobody was given the permission for organising the Dussehra event. Moreover, nobody had applied for the permission with the Amritsar Municipal Corporation,” Amritsar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sonali Giri said in Amritsar.

She said the celebrations were held at the ‘Dhobi ghat’ ground.

The commissioner said, unlike last year, the event was held on a large scale on October 19 evening.

“Last year, the scale of the function was not as big as it was witnessed on Friday evening, she said, adding there was also a small temple at the ground.

11:50 am

Limbs were flying all over: victim

Jagnandan, a labourer from Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh, who is admitted to the surgical ward and is under treatment for his head and leg injury at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital says, “As Ravan effigy was burnt people started running across the twin railway tracks due to paucity of space, no horn was heard. It was matter of seconds... limbs were flying all over and I was hit by one... I fell on the ground and sustained injuries.”

Relatives mourn near a victim at the site of a train accident at Joda Phatak in Amritsar.   | Photo Credit: PTI

 

Khanna Saxena, an eyewitness to the incident says, “While one train crossed earlier, we heard the horn. But as it crossed, the second speeding train approached in no time and no horn was blown.”

Vijay Kumar (44), an inconsolable father of 18-year-old Manish Kumar, says he has come to find the remains of his son. “I saw the head [decapitated] of my son lying on the track in a picture circulating on social media at around 3 a.m... I'm now trying to search him from one hospital to another... My world is finished.” — Vikas Vasudeva

11:30 am

Trains cancelled or diverted

The railways cancelled 37 trains and diverted 16 trains on Saturday, officials said.

Giving details, the railways said 10 mail/express trains and 27 passenger trains were cancelled. While 16 trains were diverted and reached their destination through a different route, 18 trains were short-terminated, Northern Railways spokesperson Deepak Kumar said.

10:30 am

39 of those killed in accident identified: Officials

Thirty-nine of the 60 people killed in the train accident near here have been identified so far, officials said on Saturday.

The injured have been admitted to seven hospitals, they said.

According to officials, the post-mortem examination on 29 bodies has been done.

10:25 am

Accident should not be politicised: Sidhu

Punjab Minister and local MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu said the mowing down of Dussehra revellers by a train was an accident and that nobody had done it intentionally.

He, however, said there was a “big negligence” and asked his detractors not to do politics over the incident.

“It was an unfortunate incident. I talked to few people who told me that some people were standing on the rail track and some were sitting on a stone near the track,” the Minister told reporters.

“When effigy of Ravana was lit, some people retreated back. Then the train came with a great speed and there was no horn and people did not come to know [about the approaching train] and it happened in a matter of just one or two seconds,” he said.

Defending his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who was accused of leaving the accident site without bothering about the victims, the State Culture Minister said she was attending to patients at the hospital when allegations were being levelled against her.

Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu visits a victim of a train accident at Jodh Phatak, at Civil Hospital in Amritsar on October 20, 2018.   | Photo Credit: PTI

 

“When I talked to my wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu Friday, she was in a hospital,” he said.

“I fought elections from here because of my wife. She has been working here. Friday night, when accusations were being levelled against her, she was with patients. She called me up Friday. She came to know about the incident before reaching home. She then immediately reached here,” Mr. Sidhu said.

Meanwhile, the Congress leader visited local hospitals and met the patients and their relatives on Saturday morning.

Sidhu said when he learnt about the accident, he was shocked. He added that he was away to Calicut for a function on Friday.

Refusing to point fingers, the Minister said, “Nobody has done it deliberately. However, there is a big negligence [behind this incident]... when I talk about negligence, some people did not even understand their responsibility.”

“Nobody had any intention to do this. There was no motive,” he said, adding the incident was an irreparable loss.

He also requested not to give the incident a “political shape”.

“The question is that the accident should not be given political shape. It is an accident. Do not make false allegations and do politics on this issue,” Mr. Sidhu said.

Train driver detained, questioned

The Punjab and Railway Police on Saturday questioned the driver of a train that crushed at least 61 people to death in Amritsar while they were watching the burning of a Ravana effigy from a railway track.

Punjab Police officials said that the DMU (diesel multiple unit) driver had been detained at the Ludhiana railway station and was being questioned regarding the incident that took place on Friday night at the Jora Phatak near Dhobi Ghat within Amritsar city.

Sources said that the driver claimed that he was given green signal and all clear and had no idea that hundreds of people were standing on the tracks when the train crossed the area.

No action has so far been initiated against the organisers, who are leaders of the ruling Congress in Punjab, of the Dusshera event. Police sources said that the organisers had gone underground.

Railway officials were also gathering information from the railway linemen posted along the tracks near the Jora Phatak area who failed to inform the DMU driver regarding the presence of over 700 people on the railway tracks who were watching the burning of the Ravan and other effigies during Dusshera celebrations.

’Ravana Dahan’ has been taking place at accident site for over 20 years: locals

For more than 20 years, people from adjoining villages would gather at the vacant plot at Joda Phatak, barely 50 metres from railway tracks, to witness the burning of Ravana effigy as part of Dussehra celebrations.

Fifty-year-old Jaswant said that the Ravana effigy is burnt at this plot, while the Ramlila event was organised at a good distance from the railway tracks.

The site of a railway accident near the venue of Dussehra festivities, at Joda Phatak in Amritsar on October 19, 2018.   | Photo Credit: PTI

Mr. Jawant claimed that people did not hear horn of the train coming from Jalandhar as there were noise due to bursting of firecrackers.

Before the train going to Amritsar from Jalandhar that mowed down the revellers, two trains passed through the tracks, but they slowed down their speed, he claimed.

Locals said that the train tragedy took place around 7.10 p.m. on Friday when railway tracks were packed with people who were watching the burning of Ravana effigy.

“Ravana effigy is being burnt at this vacant plot for over 20 years, but no such incident has happened earlier,” Balwikdar, another resident, said.

Railways not intimated about event: Lohani

The railways was not intimated about a Dussehra event along the tracks that led to the deaths of at least 61 people in Amritsar, Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani said in a statement.

He said that the accident occurred at a stretch between two stations — Amritsar and Manawala, and not at a level crossing.

“At midsections, trains run at their assigned speed and people are not expected to be on the tracks. At midsections, there is no railway staff posted. We have staff at level crossings whose job is to regulate traffic,” he said, explaining why the railways was not alerted about the congregation by its staff.

He said that the gateman was 400 metres away at a level crossing. He also said that if the driver had applied emergency breaks, there could have been a bigger tragedy.

He said that the train was running at its assigned speed and initial reports suggest that the driver applied brakes and the train slowed down.

“There was no information and no permission sought from us. The event took place at a place adjoining the railway land in private property,” he said.

Refusing to assign any blame, Mr. Lohani, who visited the spot at midnight, said that the national transporter has been carrying out campaigns exhorting people not to trespass.

“We will take that forward,” he said.

9:00 am

7 of the injured in critical conditions

Seven of the 70-odd people injured were in critical conditions, officials said on Saturday.

The injured were admitted to different hospitals in Amritsar. "Among the injured, the conditions of seven persons continue to remain critical," an official said.

According to the officials, many of the deceased were yet to be identified. A forensic science team has reached the site, they said. The Punjab government has ordered a probe into the incident.

8.30 am

Punjab CM to visit Amritsar

A video of the tragic incident showed that several people were run over by a train when they were watching the burning of an effigy of demon king Ravana, as part of the Dussehra celebrations.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who has postponed his Israel trip, will reach Amritsar this morning to assess the situation and meet the families of the victims, officials said.

All offices and educational institutions will remain closed on Saturday in view of the tragedy.

Friday night, Union Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha, along with Punjab BJP chief Shwait Malik, visited the site to take stock of the situation, officials said.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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