New Delhi: New Delhi: Over 50 people were killed and several injured when a train ran into a crowd on the railway tracks, watching Dussehra celebrations in Amritsar district of Punjab today.

The incident took place around 6.45 pm at Dhobi Ghat near Jaura Phatak railway crossing. A crowd of around 300 people was watching Ravan effigies being burnt when the passenger train hit the people standing on the track.

The death toll is likely to rise further.

A preliminary report suggested that people could not hear the hooting of the train because of the exploding crackers. Several people were mowed down by one of the trains

Amritsar train accident: Railways helpline NOs: 0183-2223171, 0183-2564485.

Railways conducting immediate relief, rescue ops: Piyush Goyal

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that the railways is conducting immediate relief, rescue ops.

“Shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic train incident that occurred in #Amritsar. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. I pray for the injured to recover quickly. Railways is conducting immediate relief and rescue operations,” tweets Goyal.

Amritsar train accident video pic.twitter.com/hb9Q3f9qL6

— Satinder pal singh (@SATINDER_13) October 19, 2018

Punjab CM announces Rs 5 lakh ex gratia

Punjab chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh has announced Rs 5 lakh to kin of each deceased and free treatment to injured in government and private hospitals.

“Rushing to Amritsar to personally supervise relief & rescue in tragic rail accident on Dussehra in Amritsar. My govt will give Rs 5 lakh to kin of each deceased & free treatment to injured in govt & pvt hospitals. District authorities have been mobilised on war footing,” Singh said on Twitter.

Punjab Revenue Minister Sukhbinder Sarkaria has been deputed to immediately reach Amritsar to oversee rescue operations.

Centre will provide all possible assistance to Punjab: Rajnath

“Pained beyond words at the loss of precious lives due to a train tragedy during Dussehra festivities in Punjab. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with the injured. I spoke to Home Secretary of Punjab and DGP of the state regarding the train accident in Amritsar. They are rushing to the spot. Centre is ready to provide all possible assistance to the state at this hour of grief,”Home Minister Rajanth Singh on train accident.

Train runs over people watching Ravan burning

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.

The train was coming from Jalandhar to Amritsar. At least 300 people were at the spot watching ‘Ravan dahan’, sources said.

LIVE UPDATES:

At least 50 people were feared dead today in a tragic train accident in Choura Bazar near Amritsar.

According to reports, several people were run over by the train while they were standing on tracks to watch the burning of Ravan effigy on the occasion of the Dussehra.

Amritsar train accident video pic.twitter.com/hb9Q3f9qL6

— Satinder pal singh (@SATINDER_13) October 19, 2018

Due to the noise of the crackers, people could not hear the sound of the approaching train

#Punjab: Several feared dead as a train runs into a burning Ravan effigy in Choura Bazar near Amritsar: More details awaited pic.twitter.com/eroBrSIHqA

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018

#An eyewitness says, a train travelling at a fast speed ran over several people during Dussehra celebrations, in Choura Bazar near Amritsar.

#Punjab: An eyewitness says, a train travelling at a fast speed ran over several people during Dussehra celebrations, in Choura Bazar near Amritsar pic.twitter.com/JziMF03JyS

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018

#Police says, “There are more than 50 casualties. We are evacuating people, injured taken to the hospital”, on accident in which several are feared dead in Choura Bazar near Amritsar

#Punjab: Police says, “There are more than 50 casualties. We are evacuating people, injured taken to the hospital”, on accident in which several are feared dead in Choura Bazar near Amritsar pic.twitter.com/ITMeckyIN4

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018

#Eyewitness say, “The administration and the Dussehra committee are at fault, they should have raised an alarm when the train was approaching, they should have made sure that the train halts or slows down.” #Amritsar

#Punjab: Eyewitness say, “The administration and the Dussehra committee are at fault, they should have raised an alarm when the train was approaching, they should have made sure that the train halts or slows down.” #Amritsar pic.twitter.com/xdwXpr0L1H

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018

#At gate no. 27 b/w Amritsar & Manawala. As Dussehra celebration was taking place some incident had occurred& people started rushing towards closed gate number 27 while a DMU train number 74943 was passing the closed gate: CPRO Northern Railway; Visuals from accident site

#Punjab: At gate no. 27 b/w Amritsar & Manawala. As Dussehra celebration was taking place some incident had occurred& people started rushing towards closed gate number 27 while a DMU train number 74943 was passing the closed gate: CPRO Northern Railway; Visuals from accident site pic.twitter.com/TMJILYC6Or

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018

#The moment when the DMU train 74943 stuck people watching Dussehra celebrations in Choura Bazar near Amritsar (Source:Mobile footage-Unverified)

#WATCH The moment when the DMU train 74943 stuck people watching Dussehra celebrations in Choura Bazar near #Amritsar (Source:Mobile footage-Unverified) pic.twitter.com/cmX0Tq2pFE

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018

#Shocked to hear of tragic rail accident in Amritsar. Have asked all govt & pvt hospitals to stay open to help in this hour of grief. District authorities have been directed to take up relief and rescue operations on a war footing, tweets Punjab CM

Shocked to hear of tragic rail accident in Amritsar. Have asked all govt & pvt hospitals to stay open to help in this hour of grief. District authorities have been directed to take up relief and rescue operations on a war footing, tweets Punjab CM (file pic) pic.twitter.com/sT6mgTDaIl

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018

#Punjab CM Capt.Amarinder Singh tweets “Rushing to Amritsar to personally supervise relief & rescue in tragic rail accident on Dussehra in Amritsar. My govt will give Rs 5 lakh to kin of each deceased & free treatment to injured in govt & pvt hospitals. District authorities have been mobilised on war footing.”

Rushing to Amritsar to personally supervise relief & rescue in tragic rail accident on Dussehra in Amritsar. My govt will give Rs 5 lakh to kin of each deceased & free treatment to injured in govt & pvt hospitals. District authorities have been mobilised on war footing.

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) October 19, 2018

#Home Minister Rajnath Singh also tweets “Pained beyond words at the loss of precious lives due to a train tragedy during Dussehra festivities in Punjab. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with the injured.”

Pained beyond words at the loss of precious lives due to a train tragedy during Dussehra festivities in Punjab. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and prayers with the injured.

— राजनाथ सिंह (@rajnathsingh) October 19, 2018

#CM has directed Home Secretary, Health Secretary and ADGP Law and Order to immediately rush to Amritsar. Revenue Minister Sukhbinder Sarkaria deputed to immediately reach Amritsar to oversee rescue operations. CM to visit Amritsar tomorrow to access the situation.

#Punjab CM has directed Home Secretary, Health Secretary and ADGP Law and Order to immediately rush to Amritsar. Revenue Minister Sukhbinder Sarkaria deputed to immediately reach Amritsar to oversee rescue operations. CM to visit Amritsar tomorrow to access the situation.

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018

#Watch: Eyewitness at Amritsar accident site says, “Congress had organised Dussehra celebrations here without permission. Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife was the chief guest at the celebrations and she continued to give a speech as people were struck down by the train.”

#WATCH Eyewitness at #Amritsar accident site says, “Congress had organised Dussehra celebrations here without permission. Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife was the chief guest at the celebrations and she continued to give a speech as people were struck down by the train.” pic.twitter.com/rcsxbVxiB9

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018

#Extremely saddened by the train accident in Amritsar. The tragedy is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones&I pray that the injured recover quickly. Have asked officials to provide immediate assistance that is required: PM Modi

Extremely saddened by the train accident in Amritsar. The tragedy is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and I pray that the injured recover quickly. Have asked officials to provide immediate assistance that is required.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 19, 2018

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