Train mows down 60 Dasara revellers

​Amritsar: In a shocking and terrible disaster in Punjab, over 60 people were crushed by a train at Amritsar on Friday while they were watching the burning of Ravan effigy on the occasion of Dasara. The accident took place near Joda Phatak area of Choura Bazar in Amritsar. The train was en route from Jalandhar to Amritsar.

The incident took place when a large number of people were watching the Ravan effigy going up in flames while standing along the railway tracks. As the fireworks went off, some people, in order to avoid high flames, started retreating towards the tracks where a huge crowd was already standing to watch the event. However, two trains arrived from the opposite directions at the same time, giving a little chance to the people to escape.

A preliminary report suggested that people could not hear the hooting of the train because of the exploding crackers. Several people were mowed down by one of the trains, the officials said. Commenting on the incident, area legislator and Local Bodies Minister Navjot Sidhu told a news channel from Bengaluru that the death toll was disturbingly high. 

His wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu was reportedly the Chief Guest at the Dussehra event where the incident took place at around 7 pm. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased in the accident. He cancelled his Israeli visit and rushing to the spot to personally supervise rescue and relief operations. He also announced free treatment to all injured in the accident.