Amritsar train accident: Protesters removed from track, services resume after 40 hours

The protesters demanded that the missing person be traced and an adequate compensation be given to the family members of the victims.

Railway protection Force personnel guard a railway crossing near the accident site in Amritsar. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: A group of angry people staging protests on the railway tracks at the Amritsar train accident site near Joda Phatak pelted stones at police personnel when they (police) asked them to clear the tracks on Sunday. One security personnel got seriously injured in the eye in the attack and had to be given medical aid. Following the altercation police too chased away the protesters from the tracks. They were cleared off the tracks and train services resumed on Sunday afternoon over 40 hours after the accident, in which 59 Dussehra revellers were killed. The protesters included angry relatives of the victims who were mowed down by a speeding train while they were watching the burning of Ravana effigy. The group of outraged people demonstrated angry protests and asked the government to trace the missing people without wasting time. The protests were marked by slogans against the district administration. The protesters claimed that some people were still missing after the accident. They demanded that the missing person be traced and an adequate compensation be given to the family members of the victims.

#WATCH Amritsar: Protesters being chased away by police at Joda Phatak after they pelted stones on them when they (police) asked them to clear the railway tracks where they were sitting in protest against #AmritsarTrainAccident. #Punjab pic.twitter.com/tAPkOB5fc2

— ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2018

Amritsar:1 security personnel injured after protesters pelted stones on police when being asked to clear railway tracks where they were protesting against #AmritsarTrainAccident. Head Constable Amritpal Singh says 'They're pelting stones.He received injuries in his eyes.' #Punjab pic.twitter.com/AfdITOEJqQ

— ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2018

At least 59 were killed on Friday evening after a train mowed down a group of people watching the burning of Ravana effigy. On Saturday, after visiting the accident site and the hospitals where the injured were admitted, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had said 59 people were killed and 57 injured. Sub-divisional magistrate Rajesh Sharma, however, said 61 people lost their lives A lady whose nephew died in the mishap said while talking to ABP News:”It is because Sidhu’s wife arrived late at the event, that the accident took place. She had to come at 5:30 pm, but came at around 7 pm. If the event would have started on time, the mishap could have been averted.” Watch here: