[ad_1]
AT LEAST 50 people were killed on Friday after a train of Hindu festival in India's northern Amritsar city, police said.
Dussehra celebrations, police and eyewitnesses said.
"There was a lot of noise as firecrackers were being released and they were unable to hear the approach," police official told AFP.
An eyewitness told a local TV channel there was "utter concussion" when the crowds noticed the train "coming very fast" towards them.
"Everyone was running helter-skelter and suddenly another train crashed into the crowds of people," he said.
"There are more than 50 casualties. The priority is to take the injured to the hospital, "Amritsar city police commissioner S. S. Srivastava told reporters.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has asked for an inquiry into the latest disaster.
He said relief and rescue operations are ongoing at the site on a "war jogging."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Moderated on his condolences on Twitter and he said he was working with officials to provide badistance to victims.
Witness Pratap Singh Bajwa said the victims did not see the train, which failed to stop after the accident.
Hundreds of people were busy watching the burning of an effigy of demon Ravana during the Hindu festival of Dussehra when the train struck, he said.
Following the accident, a large number of villagers rushed to the site and condemned railroad authorities for not taking precautions in view of the festival.
While accidents are relatively common on India's sprawling rail network, Friday's was among India's deadliest in recent years.
In 2016, 146 people were killed when in India.
India is home to hundreds of years ago that are often unmanned and accidentally prone, with motorists often ignoring oncoming train warnings.
Nearly 15,000 people on the country's railways every year, according to a 2012 government report.
Source link
