On Friday, Dussehra celebrations became a disaster for the people of Amritsar when the train ran over hundreds of people who were standing on a track. They were enjoying the moment of Ravana’s effigy going up in flames but didn’t realize that the trains were approaching as the sound of firecrackers were bursting at the scene was too loud. The tragedy took place at Joda Fatak area where a large crowd was assembled to celebrate the festival. Meanwhile, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli and former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi have expressed their grief over the unfortunate incident and hoped that the families recover from their losses soon.
As the firecrackers went off, the organizers of the Dussehra celebration asked people to move back. A large number of people moved towards the railway tracks as per the instructions. However, at the same time, the Jalandhar-Amritsar DMU was crossing the spot and hence the people were run over by the train. Eyewitnesses said the Amritsar-Howrah train had crossed the spot minutes earlier. Had the two trains crossed at the same time, the casualties would have been much higher.
According to the reports, close to 60 people have lost their lives so far in the tragic incident and the count is likely to increase. Also the same number of injured badly and are being treated in the nearby hospitals with all the Government officials keeping an eye on the rescue operations.
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Kohli, who is currently in Guwahati, was left heartbroken after he got to know about the incident and took to Twitter to express his support to the affected families. He tweeted, “My prayers are with the families of those affected by the terrible train accident in Amritsar yesterday.”
My prayers are with the families of those affected by the terrible train accident in Amritsar yesterday.
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) October 20, 2018
Shahid Afridi took to Twitter to say, “Really tragic incident in India. Condolences with the affected families may Allah give them the strength to overcome the loss. May Allah protect us all.”
Really tragic incident in India. Condolences with the affected families may Allah give them the strength to overcome the loss. May Allah protect us all.
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) October 19, 2018
Even Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan came up with a heartwarming tweet as he meant to condole with the families of the people deceased in the unfortunate happening. His tweet read, “Saddened to learn of the tragic train accident in Amritsar India. Condolences go to the families of the deceased.”
Saddened to learn of the tragic train accident in Amritsar India. Condolences go to the families of the deceased.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 20, 2018
The celebrations were being attended by the wife of Punjab cabinet minister and former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu. However, she left the spot before the mishap. Talking to the reporters, she said, “I had left the spot only moments earlier after seeing that all arrangements were in place. I rushed back as soon as I got a call about the accident.”
