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Amritsar Train Accident: Train Driver Detained. Here’s What He Said About The Accident

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By Karan Nanda
New Update
Amritsar Train Accident: Train Driver Detained. Here’s What He Said About The Accident
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Hours after 60 people were crushed to death by a speeding train while watching the burning of a Ravana effigy at Joda Phatak, the Punjab and Railway Police officials has said that the driver of the train had been detained at Ludhiana railway station and was being questioned about the incident. People 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.
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According to a report published by a leading news agency, IANS, the driver had claimed that he was given green signal and all clear and had no idea that hundreds of people were standing on the tracks. Meanwhile, the Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani had informed the reporters that Jalandhar-Amritsar Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) passenger train was running at its assigned speed. Its loco-pilot, however, applied brakes to slow it down.
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"Our initial report suggest that the loco-pilot applied the brakes and the speed came down from 90 kmph to around 60-65 kmph. We are still looking at the seepdometer charts," Lohani said. Union Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha also reacted on the incident and has said that his ministry is not to be blamed for any lapses leading to the disaster.
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Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh who arrived at the accident spot 16 hours after the tragedy, has announced Rs 5 lakh compensation each to the kin of the deceased immediately after the incident.
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The Prime Minister also announced Rs 2 lakh compensation each to the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.  
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