Amritsar (Punjab) [India], Oct 19 (ANI): Expressing grief over the Amritsar train tragedy, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said that Railways is conducting immediate relief and rescue operations.
Goyal tweeted, “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.”
The minister, who is currently in the US, has cancelled all his engagements there and is immediately returning to India.
Meanwhile, ADG PR, Indian Railways, Smita Vats Sharma said that Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha is rushing to the spot. She told ANI, “It is an unfortunate accident. We don't have any confirmation on the numbers who have been impacted by the incident. Accident relief train has reached the site. Minister of State for Railways is also rushing to the spot.”
More than 50 people are feared to be dead after a train ran into people watching Dussehra celebrations near a train track in Amritsar's Choura Bazar on Friday. According to initial reports, the unfortunate 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.
Punjab Police Commissioner, SS Srivastava confirmed, "There are more than 50 casualties. The injured have been rushed to the hospital and passengers are being evacuated."
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.(ANI)
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