Amritsar Train Accident: People were seen clicking selfies when train rammed into crowd in Amritsar; see video
In a major accident that took place on the occasion of Dussehra, when people watch the burning of Ravana effigy was crushed by a passing train in Amritsar. On Friday at least 60 people died and several got injured in the accident when the train ran over the crowd watching Dussehra celebration. While people were seen taking selfies when the accident took place.
In the disturbing video footage of the accident, it showed many across the railway tracks filming the Dussehra celebrations on their mobile phones when the tragedy struck. The accident took place between Manawala and Ferozpur stations near Amritsar when a train crushed the crowd that had gathered across the tracks to watch the Dussehra event.
#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
However, the Congress Punjab Minister, Navjot Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who was the chief guest at the programme was being targeted for the accident, as several said that crowd emerged due to her presence. While She said nobody knew how the accident happened as people were enjoying and also taking selfies standing on the tracks.
Many took to twitter to express dismay over the selfie culture during such tragic incidents.
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, tweeted PM Mlodi.
“What a mindless & entirely avoidable tragedy! Watching this video you'd be hard pressed to imagine the scale of the tragedy considering the way people are nonchalantly filming away on their phones even after the train has run over people!," former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted.
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.
First published: 20 October 2018, 10:54 IST