Amritsar Tragedy: 7 of the injured in critical conditions, 22 of 61 killed yet to be identified

Seven of the 70-odd people injured in a train accident in Amritsar were in critical conditions while many of the deceased were yet to be identified, officials said on 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.

"Among the injured, the conditions of seven persons continue to remain critical," an official said. The injured have been admitted to seven hospitals.

Sub Divisional Magistrate Rajesh Sharma said 61 people, including women and children, have died and at least 72 injured have been admitted to Amritsar hospital.

According to the officials, identities of many victims were yet to be ascertained. A forensic science team has reached the site, they said.

39 of the 61 people killed in the train accident near here have been identified so far. According to officials, the post-mortem examination on 29 bodies has been done.

The Punjab government has ordered a probe into the incident.

Punjab Police commandos and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been deployed at the site of a train accident to manage a huge crowd on Saturday. A heavy police deployment has been made to keep the situation in order. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will visit the site later in the day. Singh has postponed his Israel trip and will reach Amritsar this morning to assess the situation and meet the families of the victims, officials said.

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.

The train was coming from Jalandhar when the accident occurred at Joda Phatak near Amritsar.

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.

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. 

(With PTI inputs)