Train mishap takes political turn

Amritsar: The train accident on Friday took a political turn with the Opposition accusing the state’s Congress government for lapses in allowing celebrations near railway tracks and Punjab minister Navjot Sidhu’s wife facing allegations of leaving the site after the incident.

Ms Sidhu, who was the chief guest at the event, later talked to media at a hospital where injured were taken and said her priority was to ensure they receive proper treatment.

“The effigy of Ravana was burnt and I had just left the site when the incident happened. Priority should be to get the injured treated,” she said. She also asked people to refrain from politicising the issue.

Union minister and Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the entire onus was on the state government. “There are not enough words to mourn the Amritsar train tragedy that claims so many innocent lives. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. The incident needs to be probed as it casts serious question on administration,” she tweeted.

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said the initial reports suggest it was a tragedy that could have been avoided. Another Akali leader Bikram Majithia said he was distressed to hear the news of the mishap.