View source for Amritsar train disaster

{{short description|train accident in Amritsar, 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox public transit accident
| name                = Amritsar train incident
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| coordinates         = {{coord|31|37|51|N|74|53|50|E|type:event_region:IN|display=inline,title}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dussehra-tragedy-in-amritsar-live-updates-many-killed-as-train-runs-over-revellers/article25264444.ece |title=Dussehra tragedy in Amritsar |work=The Hindu |date=19 October 2018}}</ref>
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| date                = 19 October 2018
| time                = ≈18:45 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] (UTC+05:30)
| location            = [[Amritsar, Punjab]]
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| country             = India
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| operator            = [[Indian Railways]]: [[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railway]]
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| cause               = Trespassing
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| deaths              = At least 59
| injuries            = At least 100
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The Amritsar Train Disaster was a major accident which occurred on October 19, 2018 when two [[Indian Railways]] passenger [[trains]] rode into a crowd of people in the eastern outskirts of [[Amritsar]], [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]]. The crowd had gathered to watch celebrations for the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] festival of [[Dussehra]] and were standing on the tracks. The accident occurred in the early evening, killing at least 59 people<ref>{{cite news |title=Amritsar train accident LIVE: Nearly 60 dead, PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh compensation to kins of victims |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amritsar-train-accident-live-updates-railways-punjab-dussehra-5409747/ |access-date=19 October 2018}}</ref> and injuring approximately an additional 100.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-45913793|title=Amritsar: Scores dead as train mows down crowd|date=19 October 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=19 October 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Incident ==
{{external media|width=210px|float=right|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gNEsc31icY, Footage of Amritsar Train Accident / The Quint, ANI]}}
According to local police and news media, the spectators were standing and sitting on or near the tracks in the [[Joda Phatak]]{{efn|The name is that of a railway crossing. Other spellings used in the English-language media include "Jaura"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/many-feared-dead-in-train-accident-near-amritsar-say-reports-1934614|title=60 Dead As Train Hits Crowd Watching Ravan-Burning In Punjab: 10 Points}}</ref> and "Jodha".<ref>{{cite news |title=Nitish Blames Puja Organizers in Amritsar for Train Tragedy |url=https://www.patnadaily.com/~patnadai/index.php/news/13900-nitish-blames-puja-organizers-in-amritsar-for-train-tragedy.html |access-date=21 October 2018 |publisher=[[Patna Daily]] |date=20 October 2018}}</ref>}}
area in the outskirts of Amritsar. The spectators were watching the burning of an [[effigy]] of [[Ravana]] as part of the Dussehra festival, when a commuter train ran into the crowd.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-accident/train-runs-over-crowd-on-tracks-in-northern-india-50-feared-dead-idUSKCN1MT25I|title=Train runs over crowd on tracks in northern India, 50 feared dead|last=Sharma|first=Munish|work=U.S.|access-date=19 October 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
The train was described as a [[Jalandhar City - Amritsar DEMU|diesel multiple unit]] (DMU) local passenger train travelling westbound from [[Jalandhar City Junction railway station|Jalandhar station]] to [[Amritsar Junction railway station|Amritsar]]. Witnesses claimed that another train, the [[Amritsar Mail|Amritsar–Howrah Mail]] service, had passed in the opposite direction moments earlier,<ref>{{cite news |title=Dussehra turns tragic in Amritsar as 60 crushed under train |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dussehra-turns-tragic-in-amritsar-as-60-crushed-under-train/articleshow/66287249.cms |access-date=19 October 2018 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=19 October 2018}}</ref> and this was later confirmed by the gateman in charge of the junction.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amritsar train accident: Joda Phatak gateman narrates horror, says left immediately to avoid getting lynched |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/amritsar-train-accident-joda-phatak-indian-railways-navjot-kaur-sidhu-navjot-singh-sidhu-punjab-captain-amarinder-singh-howrah-mail-ravan-dahan/302034 |access-date=20 October 2018 |agency=Times Now Digital |date=20 October 2018}}</ref>

Several witnesses claimed that the train did not blow its horn when it got close to the crowds of spectators.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/amritsar-train-accident-eyewitnesses-recount-horror/articleshow/66286663.cms|title=Punjab train accident: Eyewitnesses recount horror - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=19 October 2018}}</ref> 
The driver said that he both honked and applied the emergency brakes but did not come to a complete halt because the crowd had begun to pelt the train with stones.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amritsar train tragedy: Applied emergency brakes but wasn't able to prevent casualties, says driver |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/amritsar-train-tragedy-applied-emergency-brakes-but-wasnt-able-to-prevent-casualties-says-driver/articleshow/66304043.cms |access-date=21 October 2018 |work=21 October 2018 |publisher=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

Local [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] politician [[Navjot Kaur Sidhu]], the wife of the [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]] for [[Amritsar East (Vidhan Sabha Constituency)|Amritsar East]], was the guest of honour at the event. She said she had left the site shortly before the accident occurred but that she returned as soon as she heard about it.<ref>{{cite news |title=58 dead as train mows into crowd watching Ravan burn in Amritsar |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/58-dead-as-train-mows-into-crowd-watching-ravan-burn-in-amritsar/articleshow/66288777.cms |access-date=19 October 2018 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=20 October 2018}}</ref> Sidhu also said that the celebration was held there every year and that the railway authorities were alerted in advance of the need to moderate their speed.<ref>{{cite news |title=At least 50 dead as train hits crowd watching fireworks in India |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/19/train-hits-crowd-watching-fireworks-india-amritsar |access-date=19 October 2018 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=19 October 2018}}</ref>

== Victims ==
An official told reporters that elected officials confirmed that at least 59 people were killed in the accident. By the evening of 19 October 50 bodies had been discovered and at least 50 people had been admitted to a nearby hospital while the other nine bodies were found the next day.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/amritsar-train-mishap-live-updates-jhoda-phatak-amritsar-howrah-express-accident-dussehra-celebrations/1354670/|title=Amritsar train tragedy LIVE updates: Death toll rises to 61, Punjab Government declares state mourning|date=20 October 2018|work=The Financial Express|access-date=19 October 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
Due to the force of the train's impact, many victims were dismembered or mutilated beyond recognition, which delayed the [[body identification]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/indians-protest-railway-safety-train-accident-kills-dozens-181020112640932.html|title=Indians protest after train accident kills dozens|date=20 October 2018|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=20 October 2018}}</ref>

A local official said that most of the victims were migrant workers and their families from the states of [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Bihar]] who lived in the area.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amritsar train accident: Latest updates |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/many-dead-as-train-runs-over-people-celebrating-dussehra-near-amritsar/article25269812.ece |access-date=20 October 2018 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=20 October 2018}}</ref> Punjab navjot Singh siddhu visited some of the survivors and family members of the dead at a local hospital, on 20 October. During his visit two women met with him who had reportedly lost their entire families, including children, husbands and even in-laws.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/make-socio-economic-profiles-of-amritsar-train-accident-victims-punjab-cm-tells-administration-1915247.html|title=Make Socio-economic Profiles of Amritsar Train Accident Victims, Punjab CM Tells Administration|work=News18|access-date=22 October 2018}}</ref>

The majority of those identified were [[Cremation|cremated]] at the [[Shitala|Shitla Mata]] Temple in Amritsar, while a few others were sent back to their hometowns.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/9-of-those-killed-in-amritsar-train-accident-identified-officials/articleshow/66291200.cms|title=40 of those killed in Amritsar train accident identified: Officials|date=20 October 2018|work=The Economic Times|access-date=20 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Forty Victims of Amritsar Train Accident Identified |url=https://thewire.in/uncategorised/forty-victims-of-amritsar-train-accident-identified |access-date=21 October 2018 |publisher=[[The Wire (Indian web publication)|The Wire]] |date=21 October 2018}}</ref> Allegations were reported to the local media, that after the accident some of the crowd stole valuables of the victims and survivors; family members also reported that only the bodies of their relatives were returned but not their effects.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/amritsar-train-accident-incident-survivors-victims-robbed-amritsar-train-accident-video-today-amritsar-train-hadsa-joda-phatak-indian-national/302230|title='People turned Ravan': Mobile phones, wallets of dead and injured stolen after Amritsar train accident {{!}} India News|access-date=22 October 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Response ==
[[Punjab]] [[Chief minister|Chief Minister]] [[Amarinder Singh]] announced compensation of {{INRConvert|5|l|lk=|year=2018}} for the family of each of those killed, and free treatment for the injured. There was no immediate decision about any compensation from the railways. The central government also announced a compensation of {{INRConvert|2|l|lk=|year=2018}} for the family of each of the dead and {{INRConvert|50|k|lk=|year=2018}} for the injured.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/amritsar-train-accident-relief-operations-being-conducted-at-amritsar-accident-site-1934640|title=Relief Operations Being Conducted At Amritsar Accident Site: Piyush Goyal|work=NDTV.com|access-date=19 October 2018}}</ref> The state announced a day of mourning in honor of the victims, and Singh ordered an inquiry into how the accident had occurred.<ref name=":1" />

On 23 October, [[Navjot Singh Sidhu]], Minister for Local Government, Tourism and Cultural Affairs in the Punjab State Government<ref>{{cite web|title=Punjab: Navjot Singh Sidhu to take charge of Local Government, Tourism & Cultural Affairs Ministry|url=http://indianexpress.com/elections/punjab-assembly-elections-2017/punjab-navjot-singh-siddu-to-take-charge-of-local-government-tourism-cultural-affairs-ministry-4571855/|website=The Indian Express|access-date=18 March 2017|date=16 March 2017}}</ref>
and husband of [[Navjot Kaur Sidhu]], who was the guest of honour at the festival, announced that he and his wife would adopt all the children who lost parents in the accident, covering their education and all other expenses, and that women who lost their husbands would also be extended all required financial help.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/will-adopt-all-children-who-lost-parents-in-amritsar-train-accident-navjot-sidhu-1916609.html|title=Will Adopt All Children Who Lost Parents In Amritsar Train Accident: Navjot Sidhu|work=News18|access-date=24 October 2018}}</ref>

Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] and President [[Ramnath Kovind]]<ref>{{cite news |title=President, Vice President and PM Modi express grief over Amritsar train accident |url=http://www.ddinews.gov.in/national/president-vice-president-and-pm-modi-expresses-grief-over-amritsar-train-accident |publisher=[[Doordarshan]] |date=20 October 2018}}</ref> offered condolences to the families of the dead and hopes that the injured would recover quickly.<ref name=":0" /> Video footage of the incident seemed to show several mobile phones filming after the accident, causing the former [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] Chief Minister [[Omar Abdullah]] to criticise the reaction of the crowd.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/footage-show-people-taking-selfies-from-tracks-during-amritsar-tragedy-criticised/articleshow/66288230.cms|title=Footage show people taking selfies from tracks during Amritsar tragedy, criticised|date=19 October 2018|work=The Economic Times|access-date=19 October 2018}}</ref>

=== Protest ===
The day after the accident, 20 October, some locals staged a [[Sit-in|sit-in protest]] on the railway tracks, demanding action from officials, the train driver, and "adequate compensation" for the victims.<ref name=":2" /> Some protesters demanded that the families of those killed receive government jobs, and placed blame on officials. Railway services were continued 40 hours after the incident.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/residents-stage-protest-at-amritsar-train-accident-site-1934958|title=Residents Stage Protest At Amritsar Train Accident Site|last=PHATAK|first=JODA|date=20 October 2018|work=NDTV.com|access-date=20 October 2018}}</ref>

== Railway ==
Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, on a visit to the United States at the time of the accident, announced his immediate return to India.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/58-dead-as-train-mows-down-dasara-crowd-in-amritsar/article25266214.ece|title=61 dead as train mows down Dusserah crowd in Amritsar|date=19 October 2018|access-date=19 October 2018|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The route between Jalandhar and Amritsar was suspended, and the day after the incident 37 trains were cancelled, 16 trains diverted, and 18 trains terminated early.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/urban/in-photos-the-aftermath-of-the-deadly-amritsar-train-accident|title=In Photos: The Aftermath of the Deadly Amritsar Train Accident|date=20 October 2018|website=The Wire|access-date=20 October 2018}}</ref>

[[Minister of State]] for Railways [[Manoj Sinha]] stated that the railways administration had not been informed of the festival's location or timing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/accident-in-amritsar-live-updates-nearly-15-killed-as-train-hits-people-watching-ravana-effigy-burn/story-COXvGNAe3KrgahLxz0c3mN.html|title=Amritsar train accident Updates: Railway admin had no information about Dussehra event, says minister|date=19 October 2018|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=19 October 2018|language=en}}</ref> A senior Indian Railways official described the incident as "a clear case of trespassing" and, when asked why the train did not stop or slow as it approached, explained that there was "so much smoke that the driver was unable to see anything and he was also negotiating a curve."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/amritsar-train-accident-clear-case-of-trespassing-no-permission-given-for-event-railway-officials/story-8HnYORcb69H0uTjjqjKIDL.html|title=Amritsar train accident clear case of trespassing, no permission given for event: Railway officials|date=20 October 2018|access-date=19 October 2018|newspaper=Hindustan Times|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref>

=== Driver  ===

The driver reported the accident immediately to the [[Amritsar Junction railway station|Amritsar Junction]] [[station master]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Loco-pilot informed station master at next station about accident |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/loco-pilot-informed-station-master-at-next-station-about-accident/articleshow/66288201.cms |access-date=19 October 2018 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=19 October 2018}}</ref> and was detained by the [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab Police]] and [[Railroad police|Railway Police]] at [[Ludhiana Junction railway station|Ludhiana Railway Station]] for questioning.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amritsar train tragedy: Top developments |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/59-dead-in-amritsar-train-accident-top-developments/articleshow/66290690.cms |access-date=20 October 2018 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=20 October 2018}}</ref> The driver reportedly told officials that he had received a [[Railway signal|green signal]] and had no idea that there were hundreds of people standing on the tracks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/amritsar-train-accident-driver-says-he-was-given-green-signal-railway-says-not-our-fault-1371586-2018-10-20|title=Amritsar train accident: Driver says he was given green signal, Railways says not our fault|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=20 October 2018}}</ref>
Railways [[Minister of State]] [[Manoj Sinha]] denied any negligence on the driver's part and stated that no action was being taken against him.<ref>{{cite news |title=No action against driver, says MoS for Railways Manoj Sinha |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/no-action-against-driver-says-mos-for-railways-manoj-sinha/article25272434.ece |access-date=20 October 2018 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=20 October 2018}}</ref>

The driver released a letter on 21 October which detailed his account of the crash. He said that he applied the [[Emergency brake assist|emergency brakes]] and honked to disperse the crowd, but when a mob surrounded the train and threw stones at the train he continued to the next stop.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/amritsar-train-tragedy-applied-emergency-brakes-but-wasnt-able-to-prevent-casualties-says-driver/articleshow/66304043.cms|title=Amritsar train tragedy: Applied emergency brakes but wasn't able to prevent casualties, says driver - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=22 October 2018}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[List of Indian rail accidents]]
*[[Lists of rail accidents]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{2018 railway accidents}}
{{Disasters in India in 2018}}

[[Category:2018 disasters in India]]
[[Category:Railway accidents and incidents in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Filmed accidental deaths]]
[[Category:October 2018 events in India]]
[[Category:Railway accidents in 2018]]
[[Category:Transport in Amritsar]]