Seven months since Amritsar Train Tragedy claimed 60 lives, Punjab Police cite 'delay in forensic report'

Amritsar: Almost seven months have passed since a tragic train accident claimed the lives of 60 civillians in Amritsar city of Punjab. However, the state government or the Punjab Police are yet to submit a report in this regard and ascertain the role of individuals or organisations whose negligence led to the tragic accident on Dussehra day last year.

On October 19, a crowd of as many as 300 locals gathered at the Joda Phatak near Amritsar to witness the burning of the Ravana effigy during a function which is held every year. However, a large number of the revellers ran towards the railway tracks to maintain distance from the bursting firecrackers which is exactly when a local passenger train travelling from Jalandhar station to Amritsar crossed the section of the tracks.

In a letter he released later, the loco pilot driving the train claimed that he applied emergency brakes and even blew the horn but a mob surrounded the train and began pelting stones at the engine which is when he decided to drive the train to its next stop. Videos and pictures of the tragedy at Joda Phatak were widely circulated on social media and sparked outrage.

An official with the Punjab Police told Mirror Now that the department is waiting for an important forensic report to further the investigation. This report will ascertain whether blood samples collected from the train's headlights qualify for human blood. The officer also added that investigators have recorded the statements of as many as 150 people in connection with this case, including the Amritsar Railway Station Master and the president of the Dussehra committee Saurabh Madan Mithu, who organised the 'Ravan Daahan'.

Meanwhile, family members of the victims have criticised the state government and concerned agencies over their failure to find out whose negligence led to the horrific tragedy which claimed the lives of their loved ones. Some of the family members held demonstrations in the area near Joda Phatak carrying placards which read, 'no political leader should come here asking for votes and all political parties are the same'. The protestors have also vowed to boycott voting in the 2019 Lok Sabha election bypolls which are to be held in the constituency.