Train accident: Dussehra celebrations organised without permission, claim eyewitnesses

Eyewitnesses at the train accident site, where more than 50 people are feared dead, claimed that the Dussehra celebrations were organised without permission.

From blaming political parties to administration for allowing the celebrations near the railway track in Amritsar's Choura Bazar, the eyewitnesses were in a state of shock.

One of the eyewitnesses told ANI, "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 mowed down by the train."

Another eyewitness held the organising committee and administration guilty for the incident. He said, "The administration and the Dussehra committee are at fault, they should have raised an alarm when the train was approaching, they should have ensured that the train halted or slowed down."

As per initial reports, over 50 people are feared dead after a train ran into people watching Dussehra celebrations near a train track in Choura Bazar. According to reports, the incident took place when people were watching the Ravana effigy burning near the track.

Several people also got injured in the accident and have been admitted to the Civil Hospital in Amritsar.

Taking stock of the situation, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh directed senior officials to rush to the accident spot. He himself will be flying to Amritsar tomorrow to assess the situation.