Amritsar train accident: Probe gives clean chit to Sidhu\'s wife

Amritsar train accident: Probe gives clean chit to Sidhu's wife

Press Trust of India  |  Chandigarh 

A magisterial probe into the train tragedy in which around 60 people died, has apparently given a "clean chit" to Sidhu, wife of Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was the chief guest at the Dussehra event.

The crowd was watching the burning of a Ravana effigy near Joda Phatak on October 19 when they were mowed down by a passing train.

A 300-page report of magisterial probe into the accident was submitted to the Home Secretary last month.

The report stressed that Saurabh Mithu Madan, son of the and a close aide of the Sidhus, should have ensured safety of people at the venue, official sources said.

The report also blamed administration and municipality officials over safety measures and permission given for holding the event.

The role of railways also came under the scanner for giving the green signal to a fast train despite the presence of a huge crowd on the tracks.

The Home department has put up the file pertaining to the report before for further action.

Notably, an inquiry conducted by the of into this incident had blamed "negligence" of people, standing on the railway track, for the tragic incident.

Meanwhile, of Police (Railways) is conducting a separate inquiry into the accident to fix responsibility.

The statements of over 150 people including railway officials and were recorded by Purushartha, while Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had questioned the Railways for giving clean chit to loco-pilot of the train, had submitted his statement in writing.

Opposition Akali Dal had earlier rejected the institution of the magisterial probe and sought registration of case against and the event organiser, claiming that she allegedly left the venue without bothering about the victims.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Thu, December 06 2018. 16:25 IST