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Amritsar Train Accident: 61 Dead, 7 Critical, Punjab Observes A Day Of Mourning

The injured were admitted to different hospitals in Amritsar.
Indian Punjab Police personnel walk at the scene of the accident along railroad tracks in Amritsar on October 20, 2018, after revellers who gathered on the tracks were killed by a moving train on October 19. - A speeding train ran over revellers watching fireworks during a Hindu festival in northern India Friday, killing more than 50 people, with eyewitnesses saying they were given no warning before disaster struck. (Photo by NARINDER NANU / AFP) (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
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Indian Punjab Police personnel walk at the scene of the accident along railroad tracks in Amritsar on October 20, 2018, after revellers who gathered on the tracks were killed by a moving train on October 19. - A speeding train ran over revellers watching fireworks during a Hindu festival in northern India Friday, killing more than 50 people, with eyewitnesses saying they were given no warning before disaster struck. (Photo by NARINDER NANU / AFP) (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images

Amritsar, Oct 20 (PTI) Seven of the 70-odd people injured in a train accident near here were in critical conditions, officials said Saturday.

At least 61 people were killed Friday evening after a crowd of Dussehra revellers that had spilled onto railway tracks while watching the burning of a Ravana effigy was run over by a train near Joda Phatak here.

The injured were admitted to different hospitals in Amritsar.

"Among the injured, the conditions of seven persons continue to remain critical," an official said.

According to the officials, many of the deceased were yet to be identified.

A forensic science team has reached the site, they said.

The Punjab government has ordered a probe into the incident.

The incident took place on Friday evening when at least 300 people were watching the 'Ravana dahan' at a ground adjacent to the tracks.

As the effigy was lit and fireworks went off, a section of the crowd started retreating towards the tracks where a large number of people were already standing to watch the event, officials had said.

A video of the tragic incident showed that several people were run over by a train when they were watching the burning of an effigy of demon king Ravana, as part of the Dussehra celebrations.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who has postponed his Israel trip, will reach Amritsar this morning to assess the situation and meet the families of the victims, officials said.

All offices and educational institutions will remain closed on Saturday in view of the tragedy.

Friday night, Union Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha, along with Punjab BJP chief Shwait Malik, visited the site to take stock of the situation, officials said.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.