Amritsar Train Accident: Who Is To Blame For This Tragedy? Twitterati Raise Questions
Amritsar train tragedy that had left over 60 people dead and over 70 others injured on October 19, has sparked the debate on Twitter as many of the users asking various questions including ‘who should be blamed for this horrifying incident’.
Over 60 people were crushed to death when a train, coming from Jalandhar to Amritsar, mowed down the spectators who were gathered at Joda Phatak to witness ‘Ravana Dahan’.
#AmritsarTrainTragedy : Atleast 50 people feared dead after speeding train mowed down the people who were standing on Railway Tracks to watch burning of Ravaan statue in #Amritsar. This is totally negligence of authorities! Why were they allowed to stand at danger zone!!! pic.twitter.com/W6ZD2iLBfz
— Irony Of India (@IronyOfIndia_) October 19, 2018People standing on the tracks did not realise that the Jalandhar-Amritsar DMU passenger train, coming to Amritsar from Hoshiarpur, was approaching fast due to the noise of the firecrackers during the burning effigy.
Navjot Kaur Sidhu, the chief guest at the Dussehra celebrations in Amritsar, blamed the railway authorities for the incident.
“Dussehra celebrations are held there every year. People who are doing politics over this incident should be ashamed,” the wife of cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu added.
'Those who politicize such incidents should be ashamed of themselves', says Navjot Kaur Sidhu, while addressing media #AmritsarTrainMishap pic.twitter.com/cLGA0ZJZHG
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) October 19, 2018“We burnt the Ravan effigies at six places today. Most of them were near the railway track. They (railway authorities) should have at least issued directions to slow down the speed of the train. Such a big mistake,” she said.
The effigy of Ravan was burnt&I had just left the site when the incident happened. Priority is to get the injured treated. Dussehra celebrations are held there every year. People who are doing politics over this incident should be ashamed : Navjot Kaur Sidhu,on #Amritsar accident pic.twitter.com/QEsjoEdzS3
— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2018The Railways, on the other hand, said it was not responsible for the tragedy.
Northern Railways spokesperson Deepak Kumar said in a statement that the event was organised in an area which does not belong to the railways. It also said that neither the area administration nor the organisers informed it about any Dusshera ceremony at the spot.
Following the blame game, many twitter users took to their respective twitter handles to express their shock. Here’s what they have tweeted:
Stop the blame game and punish the organisers as they are at fault not Railways. No event should be organised anywhere near railway tracks, it's common sense. All these lives lost due to the negligence of the organisers. #AmritsarTrainAccident
— Shubhra Chandrani (@cutesishubi) October 20, 2018Watch the celebration happening...
Railway tracks are part of the Ramleela ground?
Was the Indian Railways waiting for an 'auspecious'day? #amritsartraintragedy #AmritsarTrainMishap pic.twitter.com/CCYQZmogHn
#AmritsarTrainAccident Sidhu and his wife should be booked, as they knew everything, they knew there are 1000s of people standing on the railway track and still didn't do anything, how come one can be Chief guest of an unapproved & unauthorized event?? @INCIndia @BJP4India
— Only_Modi_For_Bharat#Bad_Hindu (@vinayjha_jsr) October 20, 2018Program got delayed due to Chief Guest Navjot Kaur Sidhu,wife of @sherryontopp
No permission was sought from police by the organiser, a close aide of Sidhu.
Crowd was forced to step back towards Rly.Track.
Preplanned Mass Murder ?@PMOIndia@NIA_India#AmritsarTrainAccident
Driver is responsible to some extent..even if the signal is green they are suppose to watch track.. also with in city limits max speed limits must have been less ...even lineman must be questioned. #AmritsarTrainAccident #AmritsarTrainMishap
— RY (@ritesh_2ind) October 20, 2018Train driver innocent.
So is Indian Railways. It is a man made accident. Negligence, is of organizer of the event. #AmritsarTrainTragedy#AmritsarTrainAccident #Amritsar @PiyushGoyal https://t.co/0aJ7oQ32ze
#AmritsarTrainAccident चार बड़ी चूक
1. स्थानीय पार्षद ने बिना इजाजत इस मेले का आयोजन किया।
2. ट्रैक पर पहुँचे लोगों को वहाँ से हटाने के इंतजाम नही थे।
3. रेल ट्रैक के किनारे मेला लगने की जानकारी रेलवे को नही दी थी।
4. मेले में लगी LED स्क्रीन को रेल ट्रैक की ओर लगाया गया था। pic.twitter.com/X0SCnFaLVR
Very tragic accident..... Railway is responsible and the committee who organised this dushshehra program. It was their duty to ensure security and manage the expected crowd. #AmritsarTrainAccident
— Zeba Yasmeen (@zeba_yasmeen) October 20, 2018at a loss of words to mourn the terrible tragedy #AmritsarTrainTragedy. Railways not to be blamed.Shockingly lax crowd management by festival organisers & people's lack of caution and awareness responsible. Heartbreaking. #AmritsarTrainAccident
— Kasturi Shankar (@KasthuriShankar) October 20, 2018So sad to hear about the loss of so many precious lives due to negligence of few. Don’t know when will we realise the value of life. Why will someone be allowed to burn effigy near the railway tracks. Heartbroken #amritsartraintragedy https://t.co/kH6sMwwtUa
— sonu sood (@SonuSood) October 19, 2018Feel very sad to hear of the #AmritsarTrainTragedy when Dussehra festivities turned tragic. Primafacie it is a result of a shared negligence. We as Indians are very little safety conscious.
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) October 19, 2018Meanwhile, The Punjab Police has launched an investigation into the Dusshera tragedy. The role of train driver, railway officials and local authorities, who gave permission for holding of the event close to the railway tracks, is being probed, police officials said.