Amritsar train accident: Train driver detained, questioned

A day after 60 people were crushed to death by a moving train while they were celebrating Dusshera festival in Amritsar, the Punjab and Railway Police detained questioned the driver of the train.  

Punjab Police officials said that they have detained and are questioning the DMU (diesel multiple unit) driver at the Ludhiana railway station regarding the incident that took place on Friday night at the Jora Phatak near Dhobi Ghat within Amritsar city.

The people were crushed to death while they were watching the burning of a Ravana effigy from a railway track.

Sources said that the driver claimed that he was given a green signal and all clear and had no idea that hundreds of people were standing on the tracks when the train crossed the area.

Police sources said that the organisers of the event had gone underground.

As the Ravan and other effigies went up in flames with the deafening noise of bursting fire crackers, the people standing on the live railway tracks did not realise that a speeding train was approaching.

Nearly 150 people, most of who were watching the burning of effigies or were recording the event on their mobile phones, were mowed down by the train.

The disaster was over in 10-15 seconds, people at the spot said.