Amritsar train mishap: Magisterial probe submitted to govt

Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 21

Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner B Purushartha on Wednesday submitted the magisterial probe into the Amritsar rail mishap that killed 60 and injured several others.

Purushartha submitted the report that runs into nearly 300 pages to NS Kalsi, Additional Chief Secretary (Home).

Purushartha told The Tribune that he has submitted the report. He declined to share the content of the report, "I was asked to submit it to the government. I can answer any questions regarding the report after the government makes it public." 

The magisterial probe was ordered to find out if the organisers of the Dasehra festival near Joda Phatak were responsible for the incidents in which large number of people was mowed down by a train on October 19 late evening while they were watching an effigy of Ravana bursting into flames.

Former MLA Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, was the chief guest at the function. 

It is alleged that the function started late due to her late arrival. It was also alleged that the programme organisers did not discourage people from standing on the railway tracks.

The railways had said the district administration and the police did not inform them about the event.