(CNN) At least 55 people died and 60 were injured in northern India on Friday night after a train struck people celebrating a Hindu festival at a railway track, police said.

"The train came and it ran over the people who were there. The people were standing on and near the track," senior local police official Parbhjot Singh told CNN.

The incident took place in Amritsar, located in Punjab state, to mark the Hindu festival of Dussehra.

Singh said celebrants were burning an effigy when the train barreled through the crowds.

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. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 19, 2018

Deepak Kumar, spokesperson for Indian Railways, which operates the national rail system, confirmed that there was only one train involved in the accident. During fireworks and loud cheering, those standing on and around the tracks apparently did not hear the oncoming train.

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