Leaders at receiving end

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 19

Local MLA Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was the chief guest at the ill-fated Dasehra event, was at the receiving end  as those present said the programme got delayed as she did not turn up on time, and left soon after the tragdy. 

  She and the organiser, area councillor’s son Mithu Madan, could not be seen after the tragedy, which led to people raising slogans against them. She claimed she had rushed to hospital.

People even menacingly moved towards School Education Minister OP Soni, who visited the spot after the tragedy, and his security guards whisked him away.

The infuriated crowd also attempted to burn the Accident Relief Medical train and the driver drove it back.

At Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, people lost their lost as ambulances kept bringing the injured and the bodies.  

MP Gurjit Singh Aujla tried to pacify the agitators by blaming the district administration for the tragedy.