Amritsar Dussehra tragedy takes toll on train service, several cancelled and diverted

In the aftermath of the Dussehra tragedy at Amritsar in Punjab, in which a train killed more than 60 people, 10 Amritsar-bound trains were shortly terminated on Saturday morning, according to CPRO Northern Railways.

At least eight trains have been cancelled, five trains short originated, and five trains diverted by the railways.

READ: Negligence? Yes. Intentional? No: Navjot Singh Sidhu on Amritsar train mishap

Here are the details of the trains:

Trains cancelled: 

* The train No. 12460 Amritsar – New Delhi Intercity Express journey commencing on 20.10.2018 has been cancelled.
* The train No. 14681 New Delhi - Jalandhar Express journey commencing on 20.10.2018 has been cancelled.
* The train No. 12054  Amritsar – Haridwar Jan Shatabdi  Express journey commencing on 20.10.2018 has been cancelled.
* The train No. 12053  Haridwar - Amritsar –Jan Shatabdi  Express journey commencing on 20.10.2018 has been cancelled.
* The train No. 74642 Amritsar – Jalandhar City Passenger train journey commencing on 19.10.2018 has been cancelled.
* The train No. 74644 Amritsar – Jalandhar City Passenger train journey commencing on 19.10.2018 has been cancelled.
* The train No. 74675 Amritsar – Pathankot Passenger train journey commencing on 19.10.2018 has been cancelled.
* The train No. 74672 Pathankot – Amritsar Passenger train journey commencing on 20.10.2018 has been cancelled.

Trains diverted:

* The 12904 Amritsar – Mumbai Central Golden Temple Mail journey commencing on 19.10.2018 has been diverted to run via Amritsar-Tarantaran-Beas.
* The 14632 Amritsar – Dehradun Express journey commencing on 19.10.2018 has been diverted to run via Amritsar -Tarantarn -  Beas.
* The 12715 Nanded -  Amritsar Sachkhand Express journey commencing on 18.10.2018 has been diverted to run via Beas - -Tarantarn -  Amritsar.
* The 12483 Kochuvelli - Amritsar Express journey commencing on 17.10.2018 has been diverted to run via Beas -Tarantarn -  Amritsar.
* The 12459 New Delhi -Amritsar Intercity Express journey commencing on 19.10.2018 has been diverted to run via Beas -Tarantaran -  Amritsar.

Trains Short Terminated:

* The 12013 New Delhi – Amritsar Shatabdi Express journey commencing from 19.10.2018 will be short terminated at Jalandhar City.
* The 12925 Bandra Terminus – Amritsar Paschim Express journey commencing from 18.10.2018 will be short terminated at Mananwala.
* The 12203 Saharsa – Amritsar Garib Rath Express journey commencing from 18.10.2018 will be short terminated at Ludhiana.
* The 14673 Jay Nagar – Amritsar Shaheed Express journey commencing from 18.10.2018 will be short terminated at Ladhowal.
* The 12241 Chandigarh – Amritsar Superfast Express journey commencing from 19.10.2018 will be short terminated at Kartapur.
* The 12053 Haridwar – Amritsar Janshatabdi Express journey commencing from 19.10.2018 will be short terminated at Phagwara.
* The 54616 Pathankot – Amritsar Passenger journey commencing from 18.10.2018 will short terminated at Verka.
* The 12903 Bandra Terminus – Amritsar Golden Temple Mail journey commencing from 18.10.2018 will be short terminated at Ludhiana.
* The 18237 Bilaspur – Amritsar Chhatisgarh Express journey commencing from 18.10.2018 will be short terminated at Ludhiana.
* The 15211 Darbhanga – Amritsar Jan Nayak Express journey commencing from 18.10.2018 will be short terminated at Ambala.

Trains Short Originated:

* The 12242 Amritsar – Chandigarh Superfast Express journey commencing on 20.10.2018 will short originate from Jalandhar City.
* The 15210 Amritsar – Saharsa Jansewa Express journey commencing on 20.10.2018  will short originating from Ambala.
* The 12014 Amritsar – New Delhi Shatabdi Express  journey commencing on 20.10.2018  will short originating from Jalandhar City
* The 18238 Amritsar – Bilaspur Chhatisgarh Express journey commencing on 20.10.2018 will short originating from Ambala.
* The 12904 Amritsar – Bandra Terminus Golden Temple  Mail journey commencing on 20.10.2018  will short originating from Ambala.

On Friday evening, a local train killed and injured the people who were watching the burning of the Ravana effigy from a railway track. The Punjab Police has launched an investigation into the incident that left 72 people injured, some of them in critical condition. They were rushed to government hospitals in the area for treatment.

Bodies of the victims, most of which were dismembered, were being handed over to affected families on Saturday for performing their last rights. Amritsar Police Commissioner SS Srivastava told the media that the whole situation was being assessed by the police after completion of rescue work late on Friday. Punjab Police officials began the investigation early on Saturday into the man-made disaster.

The role of the train driver, railway officials and local authorities, who gave permission for holding of the event close to the railway tracks, is being probed, police officials said.

Scores of people were roaming on the railway tracks on Saturday morning to see the accident spot, with the police and local authorities failing to even cordon off the area. Most of the people were standing on the railway tracks near the ground where the Ravana effigy was being burnt. Eyewitnesses said the victims were either watching the burning of Ravana or were recording the event on their mobile.

Over 700 people were watching the huge Ravana effigy going up in flames amid exploding crackers at the Jora Phatak near Dhobi Ghat within Amritsar city when the Jalandhar-Amritsar DMU passenger train coming to Amritsar from Hoshiarpur came hurtling down around 7 pm. It took just about 10-15 seconds for the train to pass -- and leave behind a heap of crushed and dismembered bodies.

People standing on the tracks did not realise that the train was approaching fast due to the noise of the firecrackers during the burning effigy. Srivastava added that the toll could go up.

Wails and cries filled the air as people frantically looked for their near and dear ones. Severed bodies, including those of children, were lying at the accident site hours after the incident with angry people not allowing authorities to remove them.

Some people blamed Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu`s wife Navjot Kaur, who was the chief guest at the celebrations, saying her late arrival delayed the burning of the effigy by more than half an hour. The state government has declared a state mourning on Saturday. All offices and educational institutions will remain closed as a mark of respect to those dying in the train tragedy. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who announced an immediate compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of victims, is scheduled to visit Amritsar on Saturday.