60 killed as train hits crowd watching Ravana effigy burn in Amritsar

Amritsar: At least 60 people have been killed on Friday, 19^th October 2018 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 Amritsar in Punjab.

The train was coming from Jalandhar to Amritsar when the incident occurred at Dhobi Ghat  near Joda Phatak in Amritsar. At least 300 people were at the spot watching ‘Ravan dahan’ at a ground near the tracks.


Sub Divisional Magistrate Amritsar I Rajesh Sharma said about 60  people have died and at least 72 injured have been admitted to a Amritsar hospital.


The incident took place at around 6:45 pm. A crowd of people was watching Ravan effigy burn, additional district commissioner of police, city-2, Lakhbir Singh said.


When the effigy of Ravana burnt, the whole area resonated with the sound of the crackers. At this time, Nakodar Jalandhar DMU no. 74943, a local passenger train, came and ran into people standing on the track, who were shooting videos of the burning effigy.


Subdivisional magistrate Rajesh Sharma said death toll had mounted to 60, according to reports.


Another police officer of Amritsar police said around 70 people has received serious injuries in the incident.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Punjab Chief Miniser Amarinder Singh, Union Home Minister Rajanath Singh and others expressed shock and condoled over the tragedy.

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