Relatives of victims of train accident mourn at Civil Hospital in Amritsar on Saturday. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo
The injured were admitted to different hospitals in Amritsar.
Amritsar, October 20 (PTI) Seven of the 70-odd people injured in a train accident near here were in critical conditions, officials said Saturday.
At least 61 people were killed Friday evening after a crowd of Dussehra revellers that had spilled onto railway tracks while watching the burning of a Ravana effigy was run over by a train near Joda Phatak here.
The injured were admitted to different hospitals in Amritsar.
"Among the injured, the conditions of seven persons continue to remain critical," an official said.
According to the officials, many of the deceased were yet to be identified.
A forensic science team has reached the site, they said.
The Punjab government has ordered a probe into the incident.
The incident took place on Friday evening when at least 300 people were watching the 'Ravana dahan' at a ground adjacent to the tracks.
As the effigy was lit and fireworks went off, a section of the crowd started retreating towards the tracks where a large number of people were already standing to watch the event, officials had said.
A video of the tragic incident showed that several people were run over by a train when they were watching the burning of an effigy of demon king Ravana, as part of the Dussehra celebrations.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who has postponed his Israel trip, will reach Amritsar this morning to assess the situation and meet the families of the victims, officials said.
All offices and educational institutions will remain closed on Saturday in view of the tragedy.
Friday night, Union Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha, along with Punjab BJP chief Shwait Malik, visited the site to take stock of the situation, officials said.
[caption id="attachment_411001" align="aligncenter" width="660"]
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh, along with Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, addresses the media after visiting the accident victims at Guru Nanak Hospital in Amritsar on October 20, 2018. | Photo Credit: PTI[/caption]
Magisterial probe ordered: CM on Amritsar tragedy
Amritsar, October 20 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said on Saturday the Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner will conduct an inquiry within four weeks into the Amritsar train tragedy in which 59 people were crushed by a speeding train.
The Chief minister also said that nine of those killed were yet to be identified, while 57 other Dussehra revellers were injured as the Jalandhar-Amritsar Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) passenger train mowed them down at Jora Phatak here.
Earlier, the toll was reported to be 60.
Amarinder Singh, who reached the accident site on Saturday from Delhi, said the inquiry will look into all aspects, including whether the train followed the signals and if there was any trespassing.
"It's a terrible tragedy we all accept it. Inquiry will find out who is at fault and who is not. I cannot prejudge an inquiry. Let them come up with the report. I have given four weeks for the inquiry to be completed," he said.
He said while the Railways were also probing the issue, the state government will hold its own inquiry.
"This is not a time for making allegations. The tragedy needs to be dealt with in a proper manner. All parties should come together at this time of grief," he said.
On Friday, 700 people watching a huge Ravan effigy go up in flames amid exploding crackers spilled on to the tracks at Jora Phatahk when the passenger train heading to Hoshiarpur from Amritsar came hurtling down around 7 p.m.
Most people reportedly could not hear the hooting of the train due to the exploding crackers.
Asked why the Chief Minister reached Amritsar after 16 hours of the tragedy, he said, "I was supposed to go to Tel Aviv. I came from New Delhi to Amritsar."
He also said he did not want the administration to get busy making arrangements for his visit.
He was accompanied by Cabinet Ministers Braham Mohindra and Navjot Singh Sidhu.
