At Least 60 Dead After Being Run Over by a Train in Amritsar

CM Amarinder Singh has ordered an inquiry, and announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Punjab police personnel are present at the site of the accident to aid in the rescue.

(Photo: AP)

Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma

Over 60 people were killed in a major train accident that took place near Amritsar’s Jora Phatak on Friday, 19 October. DMU train number 74943 ran into people gathered near railway tracks watching the Dussehra celebrations around 7 pm.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered an inquiry into the accident and announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of the deceased. The Prime Minister also announced Rs 2 lakh compensation to the casualties’ kin and Rs 50,000 to those injured.

Amarinder Singh will reach the site tomorrow. MoS Railways Manoj Sinha said no permission was sought for the effigy burning near the tracks, and added that he will reach the site around midnight.

CPRO Northern Railway issued a statement:

“The accident occurred at gate no. 27 between Amritsar & 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.”

Meanwhile, an eye witness claimed that Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who is also Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife, escaped the scene of accident. She was the chief guest at the function. However, contrary to eyewitness claims, Kaur said she left the venue before the accident occured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Kovind, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, and Congress President Rahul Gandhi offered their condolences.

(with inputs from PTI)