Most dead in Amritsar train accident were from UP and Bihar
Most of those mowed down by speeding train in Punjab’s Amritsar on Friday were migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, said an official on Saturday. The death toll in the accident has reached 59, out of which the authorities has so far identified 39 bodies.
Speaking on the casualties in the incident, a senior official in the district administration said most of the migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar work in an industrial area close to the accident site and live nearby.
An India TV Exclusive video shows moment when train runs over crowd gathered for Dussehra celebrations.
The Dussehra celebration gathering on Friday evening had a good number of people who belonged to these two states as the festival is celebrated with great devotion and pomp back in their home towns, he said.
"As per initial reports, most of deceased were migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and were working in the industrial area to earn their livelihood," the official said.
The official, however, did not give exact breakdown of numbers as 20 bodies were yet to be identified.
Mass funeral of victims of rail accident in Amritsar
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All possible help is being provided by the district administration to the family of those deceased, said another official.
Train services have been suspended on the line as a large number of people since morning have been sitting on the railway tracks at the incident spot.
Slogans against the state government were raised by people, who said it did nothing to ensure proper security arrangements for the Dusshera event.
The Punjab government has ordered magisterial inquiry to ascertain the reason behind the tragic accident.
Crowd gathered for Dussehra celebrations was mowed down by a speeding train in Amritsar on Friday.
People reportedly could not hear the horn of the approaching train due to the noise of bursting crackers and loud music.
WATCH: Amritsar train tragedy
