CM orders action on probe report

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 6

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has ordered stern action against those found responsible for the Amritsar train mishap after the magisterial probe indicted the gateman of the railway crossing at Jaura Phatak and the event organisers for acts of omission and commission.

The magisterial inquiry into the incident, which claimed 61 lives on Dasehra, was conducted by Divisional Commissioner, Jalandhar B Purushartha on the CM’s orders.

The probe report observed that the spectators “committed the mistake” of watching the event from the rail tracks, while the organisers held the event without any permission.

The report blamed the police and the Municipal Corporation functionaries for their failure to enforce the law and showing “unwanted generosity”, while the key rail employees failed to take measures even after “having full knowledge of the presence of a large number of people on and around the rail tracks”.

The inquiry concluded, “Gateman of Jaura Phatak, Gate 27, Amit Singh committed a blunder in not taking appropriate safety and security measures which could have easily prevented this accident. He is one of those key railway employees whose blunder has resulted in this accident.”

As per the probe, the gateman of the railway level crossing (Gate 26), Nirmal Singh, was late in informing the gateman at Jaura Phatak.