‘Only Got Sister’s Arms’: Amritsar Tragedy Victims Recount Horror

Survivors of the Amritsar train accident that claimed at least 60 lives and injured scores recount horrific details.

Mass funeral arranged for the victims of the Amritsar tragedy.

(Photo: PTI)

Video Editor: Vishal Kumar

Survivors of the Amritsar train accident that claimed at least 60 lives and injured scores on 19 October recount horrific details. Speaking to The Quint, relatives of the deceased expressed grief.

Relatives of the deceased outside the hospital.(Photo: PTI)

‘Trains Crossed Within a Couple of Minutes of Each Other’

Two trains crossed the area within two-and-a-half minutes of each other, resulting in the accident, the CPRO, Northern Railways told The Quint.

The first train, passed the area at a slow pace, which people saw, and moved away from. The train was moving at a slow pace because it had just started moving from the Amritsar station.

Less than two and a half minutes later, according to Northern Railways officials, the second train, a DMU from Jalandhar to Amritsar passed at a high speed, and people were unable to see it, and were hit as a result.

The Amritsar Mail that ran into Dussehra revellers(Photo: ANI screengrab)

‘I Have Only Got My Sister’s Arms, Waiting for Her Body’

“I have lost my sister, brother-in-law and my nephews,” a grieving man told The Quint, while standing outside the post-mortem room in Amritsar civil hospital.

The family of a 13-year-old boy who died in the train accident staged a protest with his body at Amritsar-Jalandhar highway, demanding compensation for their loss.

Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh visited the Amandeep Hospital in Amritsar to meet the victims of the train accident. He then went to civil hospital to meet the victims. CM Singh has ensured full support to the victims.

‘I have only got my sister’s arms’, kin of a deceased told The Quint.(Photo: The Quint)

Eyewitnesses Recall Details of Tragic Accident

Eyewitnesses who live near the site of the accident recalled the events leading up to the train incident.

While the Ravana effigy was being burnt the people who lived in homes across the railway tracks stood on them to watch. Two trains were involved in the accident, eyewitnesses told The Quint.

First a train came from Amritsar railway station. The speed was slow so people moved out of the way. Then the second train that came was very fast and people didn’t have time to move.

Eyewitness

Eyewitnesses recount horrific details of the Amritsar tragedy.(Photo: ANI)

‘We Are Very Disturbed,’ Says a Migrant Labourer from Bihar

Harinder Yadav, a migrant labourer from Bihar told The Quint about the grim situation after the tragedy.

We are all disturbed. We have not eaten anything and we feel very uneasy.

Harinder Yadav, Migrant labourer

Migrant labourers from Bihar talk about the grim situation.(Photo: The Quint)

A Mass Funeral Arranged for the Victims of the Tragedy

Mass cremations of those who lost their lives in the Amritsar train accident were arranged at Shaheeda Sahib.

Mass cremations arranged for victims of the Amritsar tragedy.(Photo: PTI)

A magisterial inquiry has been ordered by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh into the train accident. A report for the same will be furnished in four weeks, CM Singh said.

Singh has announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to the kin of the deceased. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured.