Train accident in Amritsar | Latest updates: Punjab announces national mourning
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Sixty-one people were crushed by a train Friday night when a crowd of Dussehra partygoers overturned on rails watching the fire of a Ravana effigy near Joda Phatak in Amritsar.
The wounded were admitted to various premises. hospitals in the city.
The tragedy of Dussehra in Amritsar | At least 61 people are killed while the train rolls on the party animals
While the effigy was lit and fireworks were extinguished, part of the crowd began to retreat to the tracks where a large number of people were already standing to attend the event.
Here are the latest updates:
5:30 pm
Sirisena presents his condolences
Our correspondent from Colombo adds
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena expressed Saturday his "heart-felt" condolences "to the Indian government and people as a result of the Amritsar train accident. "I am deeply saddened to learn that many people have been killed and injured after the tragic incident that occurred yesterday in Amritsar, Punjab," he said in a statement issued by his office. to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. .
"The people of Sri Lanka join me in extending their deepest condolences, as well as to the Government and people of India, especially the families of the victims and those who have been affected by this tragedy. accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the Indian people in these difficult times, "he said.
5:15 pm
Vigilance Necessary for Public Events Near Railway Tracks: Nitish [19659015] Expressing his grief over the train accident in Punjab, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar questioned the level of readiness for public protest near a railway line.
"This incident is tragic. We learned that some of the dead belong to Bihar. Our condolences to all those who lost their lives, "Kumar, former prime minister of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's prime minister, told reporters.
A high level of vigilance is required from any public office nearby Mr. Kumar stated:
"We do not know whether the railways were informed in advance of the Dussehra program. Anyone who organizes events near the slopes must be very cautious. Authorities must also consider safety aspects before granting permission, "he said.
It is often impossible for a train to brake suddenly, Kumar noted.
"Trains can not make a lot of lurching noise, and it's often not possible to apply the brakes suddenly, so people have to be careful about allowing any rally near railroad tracks, wherever they are, "he added.
16:50
An ambulance driver recounts a scene "very disturbing"
An ambulance driver, who transported some of the victims to the site of the train accident at the Guru Nanak hospital has been described as "very disturbing".
Shortly after the accident, the Seva Samiti Ambulance Hospital Guru Nanak, attached to the Medical College government of Amritsar, ran all around.
The ambulance driver, Pratap Singh, said that when he arrived at the scene shortly after the accident, the scene was horrible with body pieces scattered on tracks .
Pratap Singh, as well as Jaspal Singh and Gurbax Singh, were found. nearly 15 bodies.
16:40
No action against the driver, the railways not being at fault #
The State Minister of Railways, Manoj Sinha, ruled out any punitive action against the driver. from the train that mowed the Dussehra revelers to Amritsar, claiming that the national carrier had not committed any negligence and had also advised people not to organize such events near the railroad tracks.
The railways claimed that they were not at fault. had no idea of the Dussehra event.
"The incident is not the fault of the railways. There was no fault on our part and no action against the pilot will be engaged. People should refrain from organizing such events near the tracks. I think that if precautions had been taken, the accident could have been avoided, "he said, adding that, whatever the case may be, the district administration concerned gives his authorization.
At 16:25
Survivors, families remember the night of horror
A photo WhatsApp of a head has blinked on the screen of Vijay Kumar's phone Saturday at 3 am, thus confirming worse fears – his 18-year-old son Manish was one of the partygoers feted by the train.
His youngest son, Ashish, came home safe and sound, says Kumar, but Manish's frenzied search ends with that. ping & # 39; on his phone. Since then, he has been walking from hospital to hospital, looking for the remains of his eldest son.
It was a night of indescribable horrors, said the father, aware that his son had been beheaded when the train had crossed the railway.
At 15:25
"Ravana" is mortally wounded while he watches the effigy burn
The man who plays the Ravana's character at Ram Leela's Joda Phatak is among the victims of the accident.
After having interpreted the role of Ravana, Dalbir Singh, aged twenty or so, was watching the fire of an effigy of the way when he was overthrown by 58 others. people.
Dalbir has an eight-month-old daughter.
Unable to control his emotions, Dalbir Singh's mother stated that his son played various characters in Ram Leela for many years.
The role of Ravana at Ram Leela, which had been on the ground in Dhobi Ghat, next to Joda Phatak … he is no longer … he was also crushed by the train, "she said. declared.
Manoj, a friend of Dalbir, said that he played the role of Ravana for five years at Ram Leela who stood on a piece of land a bit distant from the place of the accident.
at 3:20 pm
Most of the dead are from the United States. & Bihar
Most of the people who were mowed by the high speed train were migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, said one official.
A senior district administration official said migrant workers were working in a nearby industrial area.
However, the manager does not give the exact breakdown of the numbers because 20 bodies have not yet been identified.
3:10 pm
37 canceled trains, 16 hijacked [19659015] The railways canceled 37 trains and deviated 16 on Saturday, one day after the accident, officials said.
Ten postal / express trains and 27 pbadenger trains were canceled. According to Deepak Kumar, spokesman for the Northern Railway, 18 trains were stopped while 16 were hijacked and reached their destination by another route.
The road between Jalandhar and Amritsar is suspended, he said.
The railways maintain that they are suspended.
The Chairman of the Railway Commission, Ashwani Lohani, said in a statement that the accident had occurred in a mid-section between Amritsar and Manawala stations and not at a level crossing.
1: 55 hours
Amarinder visits the wounded; Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh told the press that he had ordered the opening of a criminal investigation into the incident after visiting the wounded and relatives of the people. victims of tragedy, reports PTI .
Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab, with Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu Visits the Victims of the Accident at Jodh Phatak, Civil Hospital, Amritsar , October 20, 2018.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Chief Minister, who postponed a trip to Israel and arrived in Amritsar in the morning, said that it had taken four weeks to submit a report to determine who was at fault . Jalandhar's divisional commissioner was given the mandate to conduct the investigation.
The state government announced an allowance of 5 lakhs each for the families of the deceased. In addition, the costs of medical treatment of wounded admitted to different hospitals will be supported.
The Chief Minister is accompanied by Minister of Health Brahm Mohindra, Minister of Local Organizations Navjot Singh Sidhu, Minister of Education OP Soni and Punjab Chief of Congress Sunil Jakhar , among others. 19659002] 13:00
Residents organize a demonstration at the scene of the accident
People organize a sit-in on the railway line in Amritsar to demand that action be taken against those responsible and the train driver and to request adequate compensation for the victims. [19659002] Protesters raise slogans against the state government and demand action from the train driver.
One of the protesters alleges that the train crossed the area at high speed and that the driver did not slow down the train despite the presence of a large crowd.
Police are hunting demonstrators when they are trying to move to residential areas from the railroad.
Police barricade the area to prevent protesters from gathering. [1 9659081] Local people gather at the scene of the accident along the Amritsar railway on October 20, 2018. "title =" The local population meets at the scene of the accident. crash along the Amritsar railway on October 20, 2018. "clbad =" media object adaptive placeholder "/>
Residents gather at the scene of the accident along the Amritsar Railway on October 20, 2018.
| Photo credit: PTI
"Why has the government not put in place adequate security arrangements at the time of the Dussehra festival?" Why was such a function allowed to stand near the railways, "asks Sujit Singh, one of the protesters.
Another protester demands that victims receive adequate compensation
Some protesters block the GT road near the scene of the accident.
A resident blames Ms. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of Minister Navjot Sidhu, who represents the region in the Assembly, from the tragedy.
"This tragic incident could have been prevented, if Navjot Kaur Sidhu had arrived at the time and if the reception had not been delayed," says Deepak, painter.
He declares that every year, the effigy of Ravana was burned between 5:30 pm and 5 pm and 18 hours, but this year it could not happen because Mrs. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who was the main guest of the event, "has fallen behind". The effigy was burned around 19 hours. "Because of the darkness, the tragedy has occurred," he adds.
According to villagers, the effigy of Ravana has been burned in the same place for over 20 years. But what has been a source of joy and enthusiasm for young and old for more than two decades has proven to be a nightmare on Friday.
12:45 pm
Amarinder arrives at Amritsar
Amarinder Singh arrives at Amritsar on a special flight from Delhi. He is accompanied by the President of the Punjab Congress and the Deputy of Gurdaspur, Sunil Jakhar. He immediately meets with senior district administration officials, ministers and congressional legislators.
Officers inform him of the tragedy and the number of dead and wounded.
The Punjab government declares national mourning on Saturday. 19659002] 12:30
UN Head of the Canadian Prime Minister, the President of Russia presents his condolences
. Chief Antonio Guterres extended his deepest condolences to the families and friends of more than 60 people who died in the accident, calling the incident "tragic".
"My heart goes to Amritsar after Friday's tragic accident, and earlier this month I had the honor of visiting the Golden Temple and witnessing the warmth and generosity of My deepest condolences to those who have lost their families and loved ones, "Guterres said in a tweet.
My heart goes to Amritsar after Friday's tragic accident. Earlier this month, I had the honor of visiting the Golden Temple and witnessing the warmth and generosity of the people. My deepest condolences to those who lost their families and loved ones.
– António Guterres (@antonioguterres) 19 October 2018
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also paid tribute to the accident in which 39 of his 61 people killed in total were identified until his death. Now.
"My thoughts are with everyone who lost a loved one in the tragic train accident in Amritsar, India. Canadians are keeping you in our hearts tonight and want a full recovery for all those injured, "says Trudeau in a tweet.
Russian President Vladimir Putin presented his condolences, said the Russian Embbady.
Russian Embbady, Mr Putin presented his condolences to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the train accident. He expressed his support to the families of the victims of the train accident.
"I address my most sincere condolences to the tragic consequences of an accident that occurred in a railway in the state of Punjab. I ask to convey my words of sympathy and support to the families and friends of those killed and to wish the wounded a quick recovery, "Putin told the Russian embbady office. [19659002] 12:15
DCP Limited Permission Amrik Singh
Congress President Mithu Madan, organizer of the Dussehra event, said he had obtained permission from the local administration to hold the event. Meanwhile, PDP (City) Amrik Singh Powar told reporters that permission was limited to the site of the Dussehra celebrations. – Vikas Vasudeva
Punjab police officers went to the scene of the accident along the Amritsar railroad on October 20, 2018, after the partygoers gathered on the tracks were killed by a train on Friday.
| Photo credit: PTI
PTI adds …
Navjot Kaur Sidhu, former deputy and wife of the Punjab Minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu, was the main guest of the event .
This event was reportedly organized by Saurabh Madan, husband of Congressman Vijay Madan. Posters by Navjot Singh Sidhu, his wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, Councilor Saurbah Madan and his wife, Vijay Madan, were on display at the event.
who authorized the holding of the event. They also held the Congress-run Punjab government responsible for authorizing the Dussehra celebrations near the railroad.
11:55
Prohibition granted: Municipal Corporation of Amritsar
The Municipal Municipality of Amritsar did not give its authorization on Saturday. was allowed to hold Dussehra's field celebrations' Dhobi Ghat & # 39; in Amritsar.
"No one was allowed to organize the Dussehra event. In addition, no one had requested permission from the Municipal Municipality of Amritsar, "Amritsar, Sonali Giri, commissioner of the Municipal Municipality of Amritsar, told Amritsar.
People gather at the scene of the crash after a high-speed train pbaded through a crowd of people on the railway track Friday, in Amritsar, October 20, 2018.
| Photo credit: Reuters
She stated that the celebrations took place on the grounds of "Dhobi Ghat."
The Commissioner stated that unlike last year, the event had had Large Scale Place on October 19th [19659002] "Last year, the scale of the feature was not as great as it was Friday night. she said, adding that there was also a small temple on the ground.
11h50
All were flying in the limbs. victim:
Jagnandan, a Hardoi worker, in Uttar Pradesh, admitted to the surgery ward and treated for a head and leg injury at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, states: "Ravan's effigies were burned the twin railway tracks because of the shortage of space, no horns it was a few seconds … the members were flying from everywhere and I was touched by a … I fell to the ground and I was hurt. "
Families mourning with a victim at the scene of a train crash at Joda Phatak in Amritsar.
| Photo credit: PTI
Khanna Saxena, an eyewitness to the incident, says, "While a train was pbading through earlier, we heard the horn. But during the crossing, the second high speed train approached in no time and no blow of horn was blown.
Vijay Kumar (44), inconsolable father of 18-year-old Manish Kumar, claims that he came looking for the remains of his son. "I saw the head [decapitated] of my son lying on the track, on a picture circulating on social media around 3 am. I am now trying to ransack him from one hospital to another … My world is over. " – Vikas Vasudeva
at 11:30 am
Annulment or Misappropriation The railways canceled 37 trains and rerouted 16 trains on Saturday, officials said, 10 postal / express trains and 27 pbadenger trains were canceled, while 16 trains were hijacked and reached their destination. on a different route, 18 trains were stopped, said North Railway spokesman Deepak Kumar.
10:30
39 people killed in the lane. Accidents are as follows: Officials
Thirty-nine of the sixty people killed in the train accident occurred near here have been identified so far, officials said Saturday. [19659002Thewoundedwereadmittedtosevenhospitalstheysaid
was made on 29 bodies
10:25
The accident should not be politicized: Sidhu
Punjab Minister and MPP Navjot Singh Sidhu said that the mowing of Dussehra protesters by a train was an accident and that nobody did it intentionally.
However, he stated that there was a "great negligence" and asked his detractors not to make policy as a result of the incident.
"It was an unfortunate incident. I spoke to some people who told me that some people were on the railway and others sat on a stone near the road, "the minister told reporters. [19659017] "When the effigy of Ravana was lit, some people withdrew. Then the train arrived at high speed and there was no horn and no one got to know it [about the approaching train] and it happened in one or two seconds, a- he declared.
Defending his wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, accused of leaving the scene of the accident without bothering about the victims, the state's Minister of Culture said that she was safe. Held patients in the hospital when charges were laid against her.
Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu visits a victim of a train accident in Jodh Phatak, at the Amritsar Civil Hospital, on October 20, 2018.
| Photo Credit: PTI
"When I spoke to my wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Friday, she was in the hospital," he said.
"I fought the elections here because of my wife. She works here. Friday night, when charges were laid against her, she was with patients. She called me on Friday. She learned about the incident before returning home. She then immediately arrived here, "said Mr. Sidhu.
At the same time, the congressman visited local hospitals and met patients and their loved ones on Saturday morning.
Sidhu said he was shocked by accident he added that he was going to Calicut on Friday to attend a reception.
Refusing to point fingers, the minister said: "Nobody did it. However, there is great negligence [behind this incident] … when I speak of negligence, some people did not even understand their responsibility. "
" No one had the intention to do so. There was no motive, "he said, adding that the incident was an irreparable loss.
He also asked not to give the incident a "political form".
"The question is that the accident should not have a political form .. It's an accident Do not make false allegations and do not make policy on this issue," said Mr. Sidhu.
I did not know that hundreds of people were standing: the train driver
The Punjab police and the railway police on Saturday interrogated the driver of a train who had killed at least 61 people in Amritsar while he was watching the burning of a Ravana effigy.
Punjab police officials said that the driver of the DMU (multiple unit diesel) had been arrested at the Ludhiana station and that he was being questioned about the incident that occurred on Friday night in Jora Phatak, near Dhobi Ghat, Amritsar City.
According to sources, the driver reportedly said he received a green signal and had no idea that Several people were on the tracks when the train pbaded through the area.
No action has been taken so far. instigated against the organizers, who are the leaders of the ruling congress in Punjab, of the Dusshera demonstration.
Railway officials also collected information from railway workers posted along the tracks near the Jora Phatak area, who had failed to inform the driver of the DMU of the presence of over 700 people on the tracks. who watched the Ravan fire and other effigies during the Dusshera celebrations.
& quot; Ravana Dahan & # 39; has been taking place at the scene of the accident for more than 20 years: the inhabitants
For more than 20 years, the inhabitants of the neighboring villages have gathered on the vacant Joda Phatak ground, just 50 meters from the railways. to witness the fire of the effigy of Ravana as part of the Dussehra celebrations.
Jaswant, 50, said that Ravana's effigy was set on fire on this property, while the Ramlila event was organized at a good distance from the railroad tracks. [19659002]
The site of a railway accident near the Dussehra festivities venue, at Joda Phatak in Amritsar on October 19, 2018.
| Photo credit: PTI
M. Jawant claimed that no one had heard the horn of the train coming from Jalandhar because firecrackers had exploded.
Before the train going to Amritsar from Jalandhar, which was mowing down the party animals, two trains pbaded by the railway.
The inhabitants declare that the tragedy of the train took place around 19:10. Friday, when the railroad was packed with people watching the cremation of the Ravana effigy.
"The Ravana effigy is burned on this vacant lot for over 20 years, but no such incident has occurred before," said Balwikdar, another resident, said.
Railways were not informed of the event: Lohani
The railways were not informed of an event in Dussehra that would have resulted in the death of at least 61 people in Amritsar, said in a statement the chairman of the Railway Commission, Ashwani Lohani. ] He stated that the accident occurred between two stations, Amritsar and Manawala, and not at a railway crossing.
"At the center of the sections, trains run at the speed badigned to them and nobody should be on the track. In the middle of the sections, there is no affected railway staff. We have people at railway crossings whose job it is to regulate traffic, "he explained, explaining why the railways were not aware of the congregation's presence.
He stated that the carrier was 400 meters at a crossing. He also said that if the driver had taken emergency breaks, the tragedy could have been more serious.
He stated that the train was traveling at the speed badigned to him and that the initial reports suggested that the driver braked and the train slowed down. 19659002] "There was no information and no permission was required of us. The event took place at a location adjacent to the railway property on a private property, "he said.
Refusing to blame anyone, Mr. Lohani, who visited on the spot at midnight, said the national carrier was conducting campaigns urging
"We will advance that," he said.
9am
7 wounded in critical conditions
Seven of the estimated 70 injured were in critical condition
The wounded were admitted to various hospitals in Amritsar. "Among the wounded, the living conditions of seven people remain critical," said one official. [19659002] According to officials, a large number of the dead had not yet been identified, and a team of forensics reached the site, the Punjab government ordered the opening of the site. an investigation into the incident.
8:30 am
Punjab President's Visit to Amritsar
A video of the tragic incident shows that several people were crushed by a train while they watched the burned fire. an effigy of the demon king Ravana as part of the Dussehra celebrations.
Punjab Prime Minister Amarinder Singh, who has rescheduled his trip to Israel, will travel to Amritsar this morning to badess the situation and meet the families of the victims, officials said.
All offices and educational institutions will remain closed on Saturday because of the tragedy.
On Friday evening, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha and Punjab BJP chief Shwait Malik visited the scene to take stock of the situation, officials said.
(With the contribution of the agencies)
