Amritsar: In a tragic incident, at least 50 people are feared dead in a train accident in Amritsar of Punjab this evening.
If sources are to be believed, the train accident took place at Joda Phatak when the train ran into a burning effigy of Ravana during Dusshera celebrations.
Some locals were burning the effigy of Ravana near the railway track. Accidentally, it fell on the rail line following which several people were standing on the railway track. However, at least 50 of them died on the spot when a train, that came on the track, run over them.
The train was on its way to Amritsar from Pathankot.
“Some incident had occurred as Dussehra celebration was taking place at gate no. 27 between Amritsar and Manawala and people started rushing towards closed gate number 27 while a DMU train number 74943 was passing the closed gate,” said CPRO Northern Railway while speaking to ANI.
“The administration and the Dussehra committee are at fault, they should have raised an alarm when the train was approaching, they should have made sure that the train halts or slows down,” said an eyewitness.
Expressing his deep grieve over the incident, Amarinder Singh, on his twitter handle said, “Shocked to hear of tragic rail accident in Amritsar. Have asked all govt & pvt hospitals to stay open to help in this hour of grief. District authorities have been directed to take up relief and rescue operations on a war footing.”
Meanwhile, some of the injured persons have been rescued and rushed to the nearby hospital for treatment.
Local administration, police with the help of locals are carrying out the rescue operation.
Ms Kalinga