Locals extend a helping hand

Divya Sharma
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 19 

As soon as the news of the railway tragedy broke, people from all walks of life reached hospitals to help in relief and rescue operations. 

Volunteers of many NGOs reached hospitals to help in any way they could. The demand for blood was met as majority of them volunteered to donate for the noble cause.

Relatives of the victims were inconsolable. They broke down while narrating how they had reached the spot to celebrate the festival with their loved ones.

“I have lost a friend who was like my brother. I had especially come to celebrate this day with him. But I had no idea that I would be meeting him for the last time,” said Sajaan, a resident of Amritsar district. “We have come here to donate blood. We also visited the local Civil Hospital. It is one of the most horrific incidents I have ever come across,” said a volunteer of Just Sewa Society, NGO. 

Political leaders faced the wrath of people at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital. Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla faced protest by people, who raised slogans against him as soon as he reached the hospital. Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu, BJP leader Shwait Malik and others visited the injured. 

A large number of medical students were assisting senior doctors. Neurosurgeons were called from private hospitals at the Civil Hospital. 

“I have not been able to locate my brother for the past many hours. I have visited the Civil as well as all local hospitals,” said Lucky.  The administration said all private and government hospitals, including the local military hospital, were treating the victims.

It’s trespassing, says Rly official 

The gathering of people close to tracks was a ‘clear case of trespassing’ and no permission for the event had been granted by the Railways, a senior official said. Seeking to shift the blame for the tragedy on the Amritsar administration, sources said the local authorities were aware about the programme. “We’re not kept in the loop and we provided no permission. The local administration should take responsibility,” the official said. pti

SGPC to provide free medical aid 

The SGPC sent its team to assist in the rescue operation at Joda Phatak near Golden Avenue. Ambulances were pressed into service to ferry the victims. SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal announced that the injured would get free medical aid at Sri Guru Ram Dass Charitable Hospital in Vallah. tns

Many click selfie during tragedy 

As scores of people were mowed down, the disturbing video footage of the accident showed many across the railway tracks filming the celebrations on their mobile phones when the tragedy struck. During several other tragedies in the past, people were seen taking selfies, which has been criticised by many as apathy and disrespectful towards the victims. PTI