Admn’s plan to help out train mishap victims’ kin

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 21

With a number of children left orphaned and many families losing their bread earners in the train tragedy at Joda Phatak (twin railway crossing) on Friday, the district administration has initiated the process of making the socio-economic profile of the victims and their family members.

The step has been taken to make suitable arrangements for the victim families. This will be apart from the compensation announced by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

Dasehra festivities turned tragic when the Jalandhar-Amritsar diesel multiple unit (DMU) rammed into revellers who stood on railway tracks to watch Ravan Dehan (burning of effigy) at Dhobi Ghat near Golden Avenue.

The district administration has confirmed that as many as 57 persons, including children and women, have lost their lives. Almost a similar numbers of persons are injured. Some of them have lost their limbs.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kamaldeep Singh Sangha said it would be a long process. “We want to ensure that their livelihood is not jeopardised for their entire life due to this tragedy. The Punjab government has announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation for the deceased,” he said.

Talking to The Tribune, Sangha said, “We will see how many are orphans, widows and elderly who have lost bread earners. We will see how can the district administration help apart from disbursing compensation announced by the government. The needful will be done to ensure the education of children and pension for elderly and widows,” said the DC.

He confirmed that 57 persons had died in the mishap. Out of them, only one person is unidentified. As many as 49 persons were cremated till late evening.