60 Dead As Train Hits Crowd Watching Ravan-Burning In Punjab: 10 Points

Witnesses said the dead included children. There were reportedly around 700 people at the accident spot, according to news agency IANS.

All India | Reported by , Edited by (with inputs from Agencies) | Updated: October 20, 2018 02:22 IST

The victims were watching the burning of Ravan's effigy near the railway tracks

New Delhi, Amritsar:  At least 60 people celebrating Dussehra were killed after a train ran over hundreds standing on a railway track in Amritsar this evening. As Ravan's effigy - located very close to the tracks at Jaura Phatak - was lit and fireworks went off, a section of the crowd retreated towards the tracks, where a large number of people were already standing to watch the celebrations. The people who were hit could not see or hear the train due to the exploding crackers. An angry crowd shouted slogans against local legislator Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who was present as chief guest during the event. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has ordered an inquiry into the accident.