More than 60 people have been killed and 100 hurt after a train ran into a crowd near Amritsar in India’s northern Punjab state on Friday night, according to media reports.
The victims were standing on the railway tracks watching celebrations for the Hindu festival of Dusshera.
As smoke obscured vision, and the loud bangs of firecrackers masked its approach, the train barrelled through the crowded religious rally, held alongside a railway track on Friday evening.
Witnesses report several children among the victims, and rescue operations are currently underway, as police and volunteers search for bodies under the debris.
Eyewitnesses reported that victims did not hear the train horn. The train that hit the crowds was travelling from Jalandhar to Amritsar.
A local resident told BBC that every year, people sit on the tracks when festivities take place here during Dusshera.
Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh declared one-day mourning in the state on Saturday.
Railways issues helpline numbers
1. Manawala station: 0183-2440024
2. Amrisar station: 0183- 2402927
3. Firozpur Control: 01632-1072
4. Jammu Tawi: 0191-2470116
5. Jalandhar Station: 98759-51957 & 0181-2235872
6. Ludhiana : 0161 2405521, 2744702
Photo credit: India Times
