Amritsar: In a horrific incident, at least 50 people glued to watching a burning Ravan effigy while standing on railway tracks were crushed by a speeding train here in Punjab on Friday evening.
A large number of people were watching a huge Ravan effigy in flames while standing on the tracks at a railway crossing at Jora Phatak when the train on way from Pathankot to Amritsar mowed them down, triggering anger and outrage.
Witnesses said that as fire was set to the Ravan effigy amid exploding crackers, many of the around 700 people gathered at the event moved back to have a better view of the event by standing on the tracks which was at a height.
Sources in the state administration said that the death is likely to go up as over 75 injured were shifted to hospital where condition of some is stated to be critical.
The dead included several children, said an witness.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh cancelled a visit to Israel after hearing about the tragedy and area legislator and Local Bodies Minister Navjot Sidhu told a news channel from Bengaluru that the death toll was alarmingly high.
His wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu was the Chief Guest at the said event and angry locals claimed that at the time of the tragic accident, she was very much there and instead of staying back, she preferred to move away.
It was even claimed that the event was organised by local Congress Councillor who had not sought any permission from the district administration to organise the same.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of political parties on Friday expressed shock and grief over a train tragedy that claimed at least 50 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.
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 asked the Punjab government and party workers to provide relief at the accident site.
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.