Agencies

Amritsar, October 19:

In a tragic accident, at least 50 people died and many got injured when a train run over them while they were celebrating Dussehra. The accident happened near Joda Phatak area of Amritsar a short while ago.

A large number of people were watching the Ravan effigy in flames while standing along the railway tracks when the train crushed them.

They reportedly could not hear the hooting of the train due to the exploding crackers.

Witnesses said the dead included children. There were reportedly around 700 people at the accident spot; new wire agency PTI however claimed that there were 300 at the spot.

The injured have been taken to hospital and the toll is expected to rise further.

TV news channels quoted some eyewittnesses claiming that Navjot Singh Sidhu and some other state leaders were present at the event when the accident happened.

There is no news as of now as who organised the event and how the event was allowed so near the railway tracks.

The train was coming from Jalandhar to Amritsar.

TV news channels quoted some eyewittnesses claiming that Navjot Singh Sidhu and some other state leaders were present at the event when the accident happened.

 

There is no news as of now as who organised the event and how the event was allowed so near the railway tracks.

 

The train was coming from Jalandhar to Amritsar.

 

A spokesperson of Northern Railway told ANI that the incident happened at gate no. 27 b/w Amritsar and Manawala. ” As Dussehra celebration was taking place some incident had occurred and people started rushing towards closed gate number 27 while a DMU train number 74943 was passing the closed gate,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

 

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said in a tweet he’ll be rushing to Amritsar.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1053293795947827200

A spokesperson of Northern Railway told ANI that the incident happened at gate no. 27 b/w Amritsar and Manawala. ” As Dussehra celebration was taking place some incident had occurred and people started rushing towards closed gate number 27 while a DMU train number 74943 was passing the closed gate,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said in a tweet he’ll be rushing to Amritsar.

https://twitter.com/capt_amarinder/status/1053299364364349440

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, also expressed grief over the train tragedy.