Amritsar Train Accident: 59 dead; Punjab CM meets injured in hospital, orders release of Rs 3 Cr ex-gratia payment
Rail officials say that it was a clear "case of trespassing" and no permission for the event had been given by the railways.
At least 59 people were killed and over 60 injured on Friday after a speeding train mowed down a crowd of Dussehra revellers that had spilled onto railway tracks while watching burning of Ravana effigy at Joda Phatak near Amritsar. The train was coming from Jalandhar and at least 300 people were watching 'Ravana dahan' at a ground adjacent to the tracks.
For Complete Coverage of Amritsar Train Accident, Please Click Here
Here's what happened throughout the day:
02:40 pm: Assistant Sub-Inspector Daljeet Singh reverted saying police have no objections in this regard, reports ANI
02:30 pm: Dussehra committee had written a letter to police seeking security arrangements for Dussehra celebrations at Dhobi Ghat, Golden Avenue in Amritsar, reports ANI
01:00 pm: We will try that postmortem of the bodies are done as soon as possible. We have identified most of the bodies except 9: Amarinder Singh
12:52 pm: Responsibility will be fixed after completion of the magisterial probe: Amarinder Singh
12:50 pm: It’s not the time for blame game. The entire country is grieving over the accident: Amarinder Singh
12:42 pm: Punjab CM orders immediate release of Rs. 3 Cr for payment of ex-gratia to the families of the deceased
12:25 pm: Slogans raised against Punjab CM Amarinder Singh outside the hospital where he had gone to visit the patients
Watch: Punjab CM meets injured in hospital, slogans raised against him
12:00 pm: People should refrain from organising such events near tracks in future.Drivers are given specific instructions on where to slow down.There was a curve, driver couldn't have seen it.About what should we order an inquiry? Trains travel in speed only: MoS Rail Manoj Sinha
11:40 am: I offer my deepest sympathies over tragic consequences of an accident on railways in Punjab. I ask to convey my words of sympathy&support to families and friends of killed people and to wish soonest recovery to those injured: Putin
11:35 am: Russian President Vladimir Putin offers condolences to President of India Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Amritsar Train Accident
11:30 am: 10 Mail Express trains and 27 passenger trains cancelled, 16 trains diverted, 10 Mail Express trains and 2 passenger trains short terminated and 6 Mail Express trains on Amritsar-Manawala section
11:15 am: Crisis Management Group on relief and rehabilitation measures briefs Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh in Amritsar
11:10 am: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh arrives in Amritsar.
10:27 am: Thirty-nine of the 61 people killed in the train accident have been identified so far.
09:00 am: The accident occurred within a matter minutes when the train came at a high speed. The train did not blow the horn. CM has ordered an investigation into the incident: Navjot Sidhu
08:50 am: It was a sad and an unfortunate incident. It is necessary to understand that it was an accident. There has been negligence but it was never intentional or motivated: Navjot Sidhu
08:45 am: 8 trains cancelled, 5 trains diverted, 10 trains short-terminated, 5 trains short-originated between Amritsar and Manawala on Saturday
08:30 am: No conspiracy behind Amritsar train accident, says Navjot Singh Sidhu
08:15 am: Latest visuals from accident site
08:05 am: Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will visit the accident site today
For Latest Videos on Amritsar Train Accident, Please Click Here
07:45 am: All offices, educational institutions to remain closed today
07:15 am: Ashwani Lohani, Chairman Railway Board, visits the accident site
For Latest Pics of Amritsar Train Accident, Please Click Here
07:00 am: Navjot Singh Sidhu visits injured in the hospital
06:10 am: Clear case of trespassing as no permission granted for Dussehra event, say Railway officials
06:05: At least 72 people have been injured in this accident
06:00 am: Death toll mounts to 61
Watch | Amritsar train accident: 61 killed as speeding train runs over people watching Ravan burn
Watch: Exclusive footage shows speeding train ramming into group of people on eve of Dusshera