Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday ordered a magisterial probe into Amritsar train tragedy where 59 people were mowed down by two trains while watching Dusshera celebration at Dhobi ghat ground near Joda Phatak
Punjab government asked the Jalandhar Divisional Commissioner to conduct an inquiry within four weeks. “Action will be taken against those responsible for the tragedy once the inquiry report comes,” Amarinder Singh assured.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha said that the railway ministry is not to be blamed for any lapses leading to the disaster.
Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani said the railways was not informed about the gathering of people. “The Commission conducts a statutory investigation into railway accidents. This was an incident where people were trespassing on the tracks and not an accident,” Ashwani Lohani told
The organisers of Ramlila function at Dhobi ghat ground near Joda Phatak took a ‘no objection certificate’ for the Dussehra.
The organisers had also asked for security arrangements, citing the expected presence of Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and his wife, former MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu, at the event, a letter seeking the certificate reveals. However, eyewitnesses complained about the arrangements for the safety of people at the ground along the tracks near Joda Phatak were not adequate.
Amritsar Deputy Commissioner of Police Amrik Singh Powar said the organisers were given a no objection certificate’ on the condition that they also get permission from the municipal corporation and the pollution department.
