Train rolls over crowd in India, more than 50 people die – International – Notes

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 19 – More than 50 people were killed and an unknown number was injured today when a train was flooded by a crowd watching the Hindu holiday celebrations Dussehra in the state of Punjab, in northern India. .

The accident occurred on Friday evening in the Dhobi Ghat area, in the Armitsar district, near the railroad crossing of Jaura Phatak, where hundreds of people attended the fire of the effigy of Ravan, the king of demons Raksasan. Hindu mythology.

The Punjab police said that a passenger train, the DMU 74943, was moving at full speed from the city of Hoshiarpur to Amritsar and that it was crossing the crowd that was on the railway in the area from Dhobi Ghat.

He explained that people, including countless children, were distracted by the burning of the effigy, many of them recording videos, and that they had not heard the whistling of the train because of the sound of firecrackers that exploded at that time.

The magistrate of the Rajesh Sharma subdivision, quoted by the official Press Trust of India news agency (PTI), confirmed the deaths of 52 people, while the Armitsar police separately said that at least 35 others were seriously injured, but both reported that the numbers could be higher.

Eyewitnesses said there were no barricades near the tracks and confirmed that the sound of the approaching train was inaudible due to firecracker explosions, according to the Hindustan Times newspaper.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was appalled by the accident, deplored the loss of life and ordered the relevant authorities to provide immediate assistance to the wounded and the families of the victims.

In turn, Punjab Prime Minister Amarinder Singh expressed his regret, called on the Armitsar region to speed up its relief and rescue operations, announced compensation for the families of the victims and treatment. free medical treatment for the wounded.

The Punjab government said Saturday a day of mourning for the victims, so that all government offices and educational institutions will remain closed.