Super Fast Train Hits Crowd Watching Ravan-Burning Dusshera Festival, 61 Died

61 Dead As Super fast Train Hits Crowd Watching Ravan-Burning Dusshera festival,In India’s northern state bordering Pakistan, Punjab.

Witnesses said the dead included children. There were reportedly around 700 people at the accident spot, according to news agency IANS. Vijayadashami also known as Dusshera, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navratri every year.
Massive rescue, relief efforts underway at Joda Phatak near Amritsar, death toll may go up further any moment….Dussehra turns tragic in Amritsar
Over 60 people were killed and 74 injured after two trains speeding in opposite directions mowed down people standing on the tracks near a railway crossing watching a Ravan effigy being burnt at a Dussehra celebration near Amritsar on Friday evening at 6-45 p.m. There were at least 700 spectators at the Dhobi Ghat ground, barely 2 km from the Amritsar station. Many of them stood on the tracks close to the Jaura Phatak crossing to get a better view and were taking videos of the burning Ravan as the first of the trains, 74643 Jalandhar-Amritsar DMU, ran them over. The second train, the 13006 Amritsar-Howrah Express, sped past seconds later and some of those who had jumped on the second set of tracks to escape the first were caught under it. We are evacuating people, injured taken to the hospital”, said SS Shrivastava, Commissioner of Police, Amritsar.

Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani rushed to the spot while the state government announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the next of kin of those who were killed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the other hand, announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the family of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured. He also directed officials to provide immediate assistance.
The state government has also declared today- a day of mourning in the state. Offices and educational institutions will remain shut. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who was scheduled to visit Israel, will fly to Amritsar on Saturday morning.
An eyewitness said no alarm was raised when the train was approaching and blamed the administration. “The administration and the Dussehra committee are at fault… they should have made sure that the train halts or slows down,” the eyewitness told ANI.
“Several times we have been requesting the authorities and local leaders telling them to take up the issue with railway authorities to slow down the trains near this Phatak during Dussehra, but no one has listened,” a local people said to the Indian Media.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered an inquiry into the train accident in Amritsar which has claimed at least 60 lives and has left 74 people injured.
Union Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal told CNN-News18: “How can the District Administration give permission? District Administration is responsible. Absolute laxity of the administration”
Bollywood Actor Ajay Devgn was one of the first celebs to tweet about the tragedy. He took to Twitter and wrote,. Pained to hear about the Amritsar train tragedy. Deepest condolences to the bereaved families.-
Veteran actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha too tweeted about it. He wrote, “Shocked & saddened to hear about the Amritsar train tragedy. It seems so unfair for a horrific accident of this magnitude amidst celebrations of Dussehra. Providence has strange ways of throwing challenges at the humankind.” In his second tweet, he wrote, “Hope wish & pray, God gives enough strength to the bereaved family. My humble request to State & Central Govt to provide immediate assistance.”
Actor Sonu Sood wrote, “So disturbed to see the visuals of #AmritsarTrainincident have no words to express how sad is the whole incident. Mere negligence could cost so many lives. Wish it was not true. May God give strength to the families who lost their loved ones. Wish this was not true”
Bollywood rising Diva Diana Penty wrote, “Absolutely shocked at hearing the news of the #trainaccident in #Amritsar. I just cannot fathom how something like this could have happened. My deepest condolences to all the families that have lost their loved ones. Love and prayers”
Senior Actor Ronit Roy wrote, “Terrible twist of fate. My heart and prayers go out to the victims and families of the #AmritsarTrainAccident .”
Actor – Director Farhan Akhtar wrote, “Saddened to hear about the loss of life in Amritsar. Safety in public spaces HAS TO be taken a lot more seriously. Deepest condolences to all families affected by this tragedy.”
Extremely saddened by the train accident in Amritsar. The tragedy is 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.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tweeted.
The train accident in Punjab in which over 50 people have died is shocking. I urge the state government & Congress workers to provide immediate relief at the accident site. My condolences to the families of those who have died. I pray that the injured make a speedy recovery. Congress president Rahul Gandhi said on social media.
Shocked to hear about the tragedy on rail tracks in Amritsar, Punjab. Understand Indian Railways and local authorities are taking steps to help affected people. Heartfelt condolences to bereaved families.President of India Ram nath Kovind express this .
Wails and cries of people filled the air as friends and relatives frantically looked for their near and dear ones. Severed bodies, including of many children, were still lying on the accident site hours after the incident with angry people not allowing authorities to remove them. It was a heart-rending sight as the dismembered body parts laid strewn on the blood-soaked ground. Many bodies could not be identified.
There was shock and disbelief as panic-stricken people recounted the horror. “I have lost my minor child. I want him back,” an inconsolable mother could be heard.
Pratyusha Mukherjee, Journalist, India