Amritsar: Relatives of victims of train accident mourn at Civil Hospital at Joda Phatak | Photo Credit: PTI

Amritsar: In a shocking and terrible disaster, at least 61 people were crushed by a train at Amritsar in Punjab on Friday while they were watching the burning of Ravan effigy on the occasion of Dussehra. The Amritsar train accident took place near Joda Phatak area of Choura Bazar. 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 direction at the same time, giving little chance to 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 the Chief Guest at the Dussehra event where the incident took place at around 7 pm.

Amritsar train accident video pic.twitter.com/hb9Q3f9qL6 — Satinder pal singh (@SATINDER_13) October 19, 2018

Amritsar train accident today: Here are the HIGHLIGHTS

12:05 am: Sources claim that prima facie, it seems to be an error on the part of the local administration. A Railway official said the gathering of people near accident site is a clear case of trespassing. He added that Railways was not kept in the loop about Dussehra celebrations near Amritsar accident site and no permission was given by them for it.

11:55 pm: The Railways is currently probing three main points: Was any intimation given regarding the event being held so close to the track? How was the event allowed to happen so close to the railway track? Was there a technical failure? Issues in signalling or error on the part of railways team.

11:45 pm: "Grieved by the unfortunate train accident in Amritsar. Our heartfelt condolences to the victims family. We pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured. Members of Ahmadiyya youth association and members of its sister concern organisation Humanity First have reached Amritsar to donate blood and provide necessary services to heal the injured."

11:35 pm: Number of people dead in Amritsar train accident rises to 61, says an official. Meanwhile, Union Health Ministry Secretary Preeti Sudan has spoken to Punjab Principal Health Secretary Satish Chandra and is proceeding to Amritsar. The Health Minister has asked PGI Chandigarh to stay on alert.

11:25 pm: Minutes after the DMU Jalandhar-Amritsar passenger train mowed down at least 58 people, the loco pilot of the train had immediately apprised the station master at the next station of the incident. As per a senior railway official, the loco pilot's version would be recorded to ascertain the cause of the accident.

11:15 pm: I visited the accident site. Everyone present there including those who lost their family members complained against Navjot Kaur Sidhu and Councillor of the area. They all felt that the incident wouldn't have occurred if all precautions were taken: Shiromani Akali Dal leader BS Majithia

11:05 pm: All train movement on all nearby tracks have been stopped after the accident as locals are sitting on the tracks in protest of the incident. All services on Jalandhar-Amritsar route remained suspended hours after the horrific incident.

11:00 pm: Approximately, over 60 injured people, including children, have received medical treatment till now. Most people have suffered orthopaedic injuries, abrasions, head trauma and eye injuries: Dr Sandeep, Emergency Medical Officer, Civil Hospital

10:50 pm: Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, who is present at the Civil Hospital, says, "Probe will be conducted into the incident. An action will be taken against those found guilty, even if it is Navjot Kaur Sidhu."

10:45 pm: Wails and cries of people filled the air as relatives and friends are frantically looking for their loved ones. Severed bodies, including that of many children, are still lying on the site, even hours after the incident. Irate kin of the deceased are not permitting authorities to remove the bodies. The dismembered body parts can be laid strewn on the blood-soaked ground.

​10:40 pm: State mourning has been declared in Punjab tomorrow. All offices and educational institutions will remain closed in view of the horrific train accident. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Punjab Police personnel are present at the site of the accident.

10:30 pm: The Punjab CM has set up a Crisis Management Group to monitor the relief and rehabilitation efforts. The Group is led by Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, with Revenue Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and Technical Education Minister Charanjit S Channi as members. The team has rushed to the accident site.

10:25 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Rs 2 lakhs for the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

10:00 pm: People who want to donate blood should arrive at the Civil Hospital and Guru Nanak Hospital in Amritsar: Public Relations department, Punjab Government

9:50 pm: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has cancelled all the engagements in the United States of America and immediately returning back to India. The minister was in the US to receive the prestigious Carnot prize for his contribution towards sustainable energy solutions.

9:40 pm: Union Minister Arun Jaitley says: "An unfortunate tragedy has taken place. My heart goes out to all those who have lost their lives and injured in this incident, which from the initial reports appears to be a tragedy that could have been avoided." Meanwhile, Minister of State For Railways Manoj Sinha says he will visit the accident site and added that no politics should be played on the incident. "Medical teams are rushing to the spot. I am also leaving for the site of the accident. As per initial information, people present near the railway track couldn't hear the sound of the approaching train due to the noise of exploding firecrackers".

9:30 pm: It is an unfortunate accident. We don't have any confirmation on the numbers who have been impacted by the incident. Accident relief train has reached the site. Minister of State for Railways is also rushing to the spot: ADG PR Smita Vats

9:20 pm: Ravan effigy was being burnt 70-80 metre from the gate. When the effigy fell, people present there ran towards the railway track at the time a train was passing and level crossing there was shut. As per initial information, 30-35 people injured: CPRO, Northern Railways, on Amritsar train accident

9:15 pm: Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal expresses profound shock and grief over the unprecedented tragedy at Dussehra festival in Amritsar. In a statement, Badal said that his heart goes out to the victims and their families and said that this is an hour of deep collective grief for all Punjabis. He has also called for an inquiry by a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court into the shocking mishap. Those responsible for the tragedy must be handed exemplary punishment, demanded Badal.

9:12 pm: Manoj Sinha, the Minister of State for Railways, is immediately rushing to Amritsar. The chairman of the Railway Board is also en route. President Ram Nath Kovind has also tweeted to pay his condolences to the bereaved families. "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," he said.

9:11 pm: Navjot Kaur Sidhu, while visiting a hospital meet the injured, further says: "The effigy of Ravan was burnt and I had just left the site when the incident happened. Priority is to get the injured treated. Dussehra celebrations are held there every year. People who are doing politics over this incident should be ashamed." Shockingly, she added: "Did we force the people to sit on the track?"

9:10 pm: Refuting reports that she was present at the event when the incident took place, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, the wife of Punjab Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, said she left the event 15 minutes before the train accident. The former BJP MLA further denied apathy and tried to shift the blame on Railways.

9:00 pm: A witness said as people were standing on the tracks, "out of nowhere came the train". Speaking angrily, the man added: "Before anyone could realise what was happening, it ran over scores of people." Another eyewitness said: "When the effigy started to burn in full flow, people began running away from it fearing it may fall over them...They did not realise that a speeding train was coming and the train did not sound its hooter."

8:55 pm: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will visit the spot tomorrow. He has cancelled his five-day visit to Israel in view of the horrific accident. The Punjab CM has ordered an inquiry into the tragic train accident.

8:54 pm: Almost two hours after the incident, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal tweets: "Shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic train incident that occurred in Amritsar. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. I pray for the injured to recover quickly. Railways is conducting immediate relief and rescue operations."

8:51 pm: Local Railway officers are at the site. Officers belonging to Ferozpur Division have rushed to the spot. Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani and Northern Railway general manager Vishwesh Chaube are rushing to the spot.

8:50 pm: "There are not enough words to mourn the Amritsar train tragedy that claims so many innocent lives. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. The incident needs to be probed as it casts serious question on administration," tweets Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

8:49 pm: "I am pained beyond words to learn about the tragic train accident in Amritsar. I have spoken to the local BJP unit and asked our karyakartas to join the rescue operation. My deepest condolences with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for early recovery of those injured," tweets BJP chief Amit Shah.

8:48 pm: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweets: "Very very sad to learn about the unfortunate rail incident in Amritsar during Dussehra festivities. I have no words to describe my shock and agony. My heart goes out to the family members of the victims. Pray that the injured persons recover very quickly."

8:45 pm: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah says: "What a mindless & entirely avoidable tragedy! Watching this video you’d be hard pressed to imagine the scale of the tragedy considering the way people are nonchalantly filming away on their phones even after the train has run over people!"

8:40 am: "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," tweets Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

8:39 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays condolences to the victims of the heart-wrenching 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&I pray that the injured recover quickly. Have asked officials to provide immediate assistance that is required".

8:35 pm: Home Minister Rajnath Singh says Centre will provide all possible assistance to Punjab. Meanwhile, Sub Divisional Magistrate Amritsar Rajesh Sharma said 50 bodies have been found and at least 50 injured have been admitted to a government hospital.

8:30 pm: The Punjab Chief Minister is rushing to Amritsar to personally supervise relief and rescue work. "My govt will give Rs 5 lakh to kin of each deceased & free treatment to injured in govt & pvt hospitals. District authorities have been mobilised on war footing," tweeted Singh.

8:26 pm: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh says he was "shocked to hear" about the tragic rail accident in Amritsar. "Have asked all govt & pvt hospitals to stay open to help in this hour of grief. District authorities have been directed to take up relief and rescue operations on a war footing."

8:23 pm: "Extremely sad to hear the unfortunate death of innocent devotees watching Dussehra at Joda Gate in Amritsar by a speeding train. Local organisers and police must answer how the celebrations were allowed to be held near the railway track," tweeted Shiromani Akali Dal president and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

​8:21 pm: Locals alleged that Navjot Kaur Sidhu, the wife of Punjab Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, was the chief guest at the event. They further claimed that Navjot Kaur Sidhu left the venue as soon as the incident took place.

8:20 pm: In a statement, Deepak Kumar, CPRO, Northern Railways, said that as per initial information, at gate number 27 between Amritsar and Mananwala, "as Dussehra celebration and Ravan Dahan were taking place, some incident had occurred and people started rushing towards closed gate number 27 while a DMU train number 74943 was passing the closed gate. The incidental information is being collected."

8:17 pm: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tweets:

8:15 pm: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweets: "Extremely sad news coming about a major train accident near Amritsar

I appeal to all our volunteers in the area to help authorities in the relief work and provide whatever help we can in this moment of crisis".

8:10 pm: An eyewitness says the administration and the Dussehra committee are at fault. "They should have raised an alarm when the train was approaching, they should have made sure that the train halts or slows down."

8:05 pm: There are more than 50 casualties. We are evacuating people, injured taken to the hospital, says Amritsar Police Commissioner SS Srivastava.

Several casualties feared in a major train accident in Amritsar, Punjab pic.twitter.com/zoeRd2Mrl4 — TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) October 19, 2018

7:50 pm: Several injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals. A number of disturbing images are surfacing. As per an eyewitness, a train travelling at a fast speed mowed down several people during Dussehra celebrations.

7:35 pm: The toll is expected to rise over 100. There were reportedly around 500-700 people at a ground near the tracks. The moment the effigy of Ravan caught fire, crackers started flying around. While trying to escape the crackers, people frantically started running on the railway tracks and could not see the approaching trains from either side of the tracks.