Capt orders probe, won’t ‘prejudge’ on rail tragedy

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 20 

More than 16 hours after a train rammed into a Dasehra crowd, killing 59 persons and injuring 62, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh arrived here on Saturday morning to “review the ground situation”. After visiting the accident site and the injured in various hospitals, he announced a magisterial inquiry with a report in four weeks.

On the Railways refusing to take responsibility, the CM replied: “An inquiry will be conducted by a team under the Jalandhar Division Commissioner. It will take four weeks to reach a conclusion on every aspect, but I cannot prejudge.” 

He said he had put off his visit to Saturday on the advice of the district authorities, which pointed out that any VIP movement would divert attention from rescue and relief efforts. “I was at the Delhi airport to board a Tel Aviv flight when I got information of the terrible disaster. I rushed back.” 

On Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s alleged “parmatma ka parkop (God’s wrath)” remark, the CM said he (Sidhu) too was distressed  and his remark may have been misconstrued. “This is not the time for political blame game,” he stressed, calling upon all to join hands in relief operations.

“The national flag will fly at half mast and educational institutions in the district will remain shut till Monday,” the CM announced.

A three-member crisis management group, headed by Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, will stay put in the city to monitor and assist in the relief operations. 

Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for kin of dead from Bihar: Nitish

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for the next of kin of those hailing from the state who died in the train accident in Amritsar. Four persons from Bihar — one each from Patna and Bhagalpur districts and two from Bhagalpur — were confirmed to be among those killed. Kumar, who served as Railway Minister during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure, had earlier expressed grief at the loss of life. PTI

Railways to launch massive anti-trespass campaign

New Delhi: The Railways will launch a massive drive against trespass on tracks across its network, Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani said on Saturday, a day after the Amritsar train accident described by the railways as a “clear case of trespassing”. “We will launch a nationwide campaign against trespassing and the dangers thereof. This is all that we can do to avoid such tragedies,” he said. PTI

Imran, Sirisena express grief 

Islamabad/Colombo: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday expressed grief over the Amritsar tragedy. Khan tweeted, “Saddened to learn of the tragic train accident... Condolences go to the families of the deceased.” PTI

SGPC to hold ‘akhand path’  

Amritsar: The SGPC will start an ‘akhand path’ for the train mishap victims on Sunday at Gurdwara Diwan Hall in the Golden Temple complex, followed by the ‘bhog’ on October 23. An SGPC delegation, including chief secretary Dr Roop Singh, visited the accident site and met the victims’ kin. TNS

Youth leaves behind disabled brother 

Amritsar: Petrol pump employee Udho Ram Pandey, who had migrated from UP to the city a few years ago, lost his younger son, Bobby Pandey. “I now see a bleak future for my polio-afflicted son, Rohit Pandey, and me. There is no one left to take care of us,” he said. TNS