Amritsar train accident: Police begin probe as leaders, ministers mourn the tragedy

The Punjab Police has launched an investigation into the Dusshera tragedy in Amritsar on Friday evening in which a local train crushed at least 58 people while watching the burning of a Ravana effigy from a railway track.

The incident left 72 people injured, some of them in critical condition. They were rushed to government hospitals in the area for treatment.

Bodies of the victims, most of which were dismembered, were being handed over to affected families on Saturday for performing their last rights.

Amritsar Police Commissioner SS Srivastava told the media that the whole situation was being assessed by the police after completion of rescue work late on Friday.

Punjab Police officials began the investigation early on Saturday into the man-made disaster.

The role of train driver, railway officials and local authorities, who gave permission for holding of the event close to the railway tracks, is being probed, police officials said.

Scores of people were roaming on the the railway tracks on Saturday morning to see the accident spot, with the police and local authorities failing to even cordon off the area.

Most of the dead and injured were standing on the railway tracks near the ground where the Ravana effigy was being burnt.

Eyewitnesses said the victims were either watching the burning of Ravana or were recording the event on their mobile.

Over 700 people were watching the huge Ravana effigy going up in flames amid exploding crackers at the Jora Phatak near Dhobi Ghat within Amritsar city when the Jalandhar-Amritsar DMU passenger train coming to Amritsar from Hoshiarpur came hurtling down around 7 pm It took just about 10-15 seconds for the train to pass — and leave behind a heap of crushed and dismembered bodies.

People standing on the tracks did not realise that the train was approaching fast due to the noise of the firecrackers during the burning effigy. Srivastava said that 58 people were left dead and 72 have been rushed to hospitals in the city, adding that the toll could go up.

Wails and cries filled the air as people frantically looked for their near and dear ones. Severed bodies, including those of children, were lying at the accident site hours after the incident with angry people not allowing authorities to remove them.

Some people blamed Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur, who was the chief guest at the celebrations, saying her late arrival delayed the burning of the effigy by more than half an hour.

President, Prime Minister, Punjab CM and Governor mourn the train tragedy

The state government has declared a state mourning on Saturday. All offices and educational institutions will remain closed as a mark of respect to those dying in the train tragedy.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who announced an immediate compensation of ₹5 lakh each for the families of victims, is scheduled to visit Amritsar on Saturday.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday ordered a probe into the train disaster in which 50 people watching the burning of a Ravan effigy from a railway track were feared crushed by a speeding train in Amritsar.

A state mourning has been declared on Saturday and all offices and educational institutions will remain closed in view of the tragedy, an official spokesperson said.

The CM has ordered all the necessary administrative and police personnel to be mobilised on war footing to help out the district administration tackle the tragic situation. He has also directed the Chief Secretary to deploy all the necessary administrative officials to ensure that the injured are immediately lifted to hospitals across Amritsar. All private hospitals have also been asked to stay open, along with government hospitals, to provide urgent free treatment and care to the injured.

The government said it will set up a crisis management group to monitor relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The Chief Minister, who was scheduled to leave for Israel this evening, has postponed his trip and will fly to Amritsar in the morning to personally assess the damage and meet the families of the victims of the mishap, which occurred during Dussehra festivities.

Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore has expressed profound grief over the tragic incident in Amritsar in which about nearly 58 people have reportedly died.

In a statement issued, the Governor termed it as the most tragic and unfortunate incident. The Governor has also spoken to the DGP and district administration to provide every kind of support and assistance at this hour of tragedy and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other leaders of political parties on Friday expressed shock and grief over a train tragedy that claimed at least 58 lives during a Dussehra celebration in Punjab.

"Heartfelt condolences to bereaved families," Kovind tweeted after a speeding train ran over a large number of people who were witnessing a Ravan effigy in flames while standing on a railway track.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the disaster "heart wrenching".

"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," Modi said.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi expressed shock and had asked the Punjab government and party workers to provide relief at the accident site.

Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said immediate relief and rescue operations were being carried out.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the Punjab Home Secretary and the Director General of Police of Punjab. He said the Centre would provide all possible assistance to the state.

With inputs from Bipin Bharadwaj and IANS.