Amritsar train accident: Organisers sought police permission but ignored MC and Railways

The office bearers of Dussehra Committee Amritsar (East) which is accused of throwing norms to winds while celebrating Dussehra at Dhobi Ghat in the outskirts of Amritsar city, had sought permission from the city police only ignoring the authorities of local Municipal Corporation and the Northern Railways.

Anticipating a large gathering at the venue, Dussehra Committee president Saurabh Madan Mittu, had sought police security from the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Amritsar) giving reason that Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu will be Chief Guest of the function and his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu will also accompany him. The DCP had marked the application to ASI Kamalpreet Kaur for necessary action.

Responding to the DCP, ASI Daljit Singh, SHO, Mohkampura, said that nearly 20,000 visitors may throng the venue and the organisers will abide by the Supreme Court and Punjab and Haryana High Court directions relating to traffic management and noise pollution. The organisers were granted permission on October 17, 2108.

Interestingly, Amrik Singh Pawar, DCP, Amritsar, when contacted said, “There are no such rules to grant or seek permission for organising such religious functions in Punjab. The organisers generally inform the police and they are asked to abide by the general instructions.”

“A probe has already been ordered in the incident. Let’s wait for the outcome of its report if it has any guideline for organising such function in future,” Pawar says.

“Thousands of such functions are organised across the state every year and almost all are following the same practice,” he claimed.

On the other hand, Sonali Giri, Commissioner of Municipal Corporation, Amritsar, claimed that neither the Dussehra Committee sought any permission from her office for organising the event of ‘Ravana Dahan’ nor were they given any permission for it.

No one informed Railway authorities about the function or sought any permission, claimed Manoj Sinha, Minister of State, Railways, who visited the accident site of Friday night. The minister said that had the organisers sought prior permission, the Railways would have made necessary arrangements.

The Dussehra Committee had organised a massive function in Dhobi Ghat adjacent to Jodda Phatak (twin level crossings) on Friday evening where a large number of people had gathered.

As the venue was aced to capacity, over 300-350 Dussehra revellers had assembled at the elevated railway track outside the boundary wall of the park to have a better view of the burning almost 80-feet tall effigy of Ravana.

As the effigy was lit and the fireworks went off, there was a stampede-like situation and the onlookers started retreating towards the railway lines amid a very high noise. And at that very time, two trains approaching from opposite directions at the same time at the site left 59 killed and over 70 injured.

Tearful farewell to victims

A majority of the train accident victims were bid tearful adieu at Shiv Puri cremation ground at Durgiana Temple, Mokhampura and other cremation grounds in last two days. The bodies were transported to the cremation grounds from hospitals and morgues in an ambulances.

Additional pyres were set up at vacant spaces for cremating the victims. The administration had deployed heavy police force at these places to avoid any untoward incident.

Ramesh Chander Sharma, president of the Durgiana Temple Management Committee, said that he has never seen such a disturbing scene when so many bodies were cremated on a single day.

FIR registered against unknown at GRP police station

The Government Railway Police (GRP) has registered a case of culpable homicide and other sections of the IPC against unknown persons in the tragic train tragedy that claimed 59 lives and left almost 70 injured on Saturday.

Traffic resumes on the track despite protest

To clear the railway track, the Police on Sunday used light force to disperse agitators protesting against Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. The protesters were demanding minister’s resignation over the tragic train accident. The protesters resorted to stone-pelting in which certain Punjab police personnel and locals sustained injuries.

DCP Pawar said that the traffic on the particular track has been restored.  An empty goods train crossed from Manawala to Amritsar Railway Station successfully.

According to S Sudakar, Divisional Security Commissioner, the trial was successful. Normal rail traffic will resume soon, he added.

Meanwhile, the administration has deployed heavy police forces in the city especially at the railways stations and troubled spots to maintain law and order.