[caption id="attachment_213279" align="alignnone" width="550"]
An effigy of demon king Ravana being set on fire during Dussehra celebrations in Gurugram, Friday, Oct 19, 2018. (PTI)[/caption]
Dimapur, Oct. 19 (EMN): Dussehra celebrations on Friday turned tragic in Punjab's Amritsar as a train ploughed through people standing across the tracks watching and revelling as the effigy of Ravana went up in smoke.
According to PTI at least 50 people were killed Friday evening after a crowd of Dussehra revellers that had spilled onto railway tracks while watching burning of Ravana effigy was run over by a train near here, officials said.
A large number of people were watching the Ravan effigy in flames while standing along the railway tracks near Dhobi Ghat when the train crushed them.
They reportedly could not hear the hooting of the train due to the exploding crackers.
A witness told a news channel that as the Ravan effigy went up in flames, people started running when they were crushed by the train on the way to Amritsar from Pathankot.
Witnesses said the dead included children. There were reportedly around 700 people at the accident spot.
Area legislator and Local Bodies Minister Navjot Sidhu told a news channel on telephone from Bengaluru that the death toll was alarmingly high.
Officials said injured people were admitted to a government hospital.
The Chief Minister also announced free treatment to all injured in the accident.
"Rushing to Amritsar to personally supervise relief and rescue in tragic rail accident on Dussehra in Amritsar. My government will give Rs 5 lakh to kin of each deceased and free treatment to injured in government and private hospitals. District authorities have been mobilised on war footing," Singh tweeted.
As the effigy was lit and the fireworks went off, a section of the crowd started retreating towards the tracks where a large number of people were already standing to watch the event, officials said.
However, two trains arrived from the opposite direction at the same time giving little opportunity to people to escape, they said.
Punjab CM announces INR 5 lakh aid to deceased
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced compensation of Rs five lakh each to the kin of the deceased in the Amritsar train accident Friday and said he was rushing to the spot to personally supervise rescue and relief operations.
President, PM mourn
New Delhi, Oct. 19 (IANS): 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 30 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.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed his pain over the loss of lives and urged his party workers to provide help at the accident site.
CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted: "Shocked... Responsibility and accountability must be fixed at the very top for such accidents."
