A commuter train traveling at high speed ran through a crowd of people on the rail tracks in northern India, killing at least 61 people on Friday, state officials said, making it India's worst rail disaster this year.
Hundreds had gathered to watch the burning of an effigy as part of the Dussehra festival celebrations in the city of Amritsar in India's northern Punjab state, when a commuter train ran through the crowd.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has ordered a probe into the incident. The state police chief said emergency officials were still trying to ascertain the extent of the disaster on the outskirts of Amritsar in Punjab state.
"There was a lot of noise as firecrackers were being let off and it appears they were unable to hear the approaching train," a police official at the scene said.
Relatives of the victims who died in the train accident mourn their demise in Amritsar, India, Oct. 19, 2018./VCG Photo
Witnesses from the scene told media about seeing bodies of victims strewn around rail tracks, friends and relatives stood around in shock, many were sobbing and appeared distraught.
An eyewitness told a local TV channel there was "utter commotion" when the crowds noticed the train "coming very fast" towards them.
"Everyone was running helter-skelter and suddenly another train crashed into the crowds of people," he said.
Deepak Kumar, Chief Public Relations Officer, Northern Railways, said precautions were taken by the railway authorities and the accident took place after people ran in haste towards the track following bursting of crackers during the festival.
Police officials, surrounded by a crowd, are seen inspecting the site of the train accident in Amritsar, India, Oct. 19, 2018./VCG Photo
The injured were being treated at the Civil hospital in the city. Singh announced a compensation of 500,000 Indian rupees (6,805 US dollars) to kin of each deceased person and free treatment to injured in both government and private hospitals.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to express his grief over the tragic accident. "Extremely saddened by the train accident in Amritsar. The tragedy is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and I pray that the injured recover quickly. Have asked officials to provide immediate assistance that is required," he wrote.
A screenshot of the tweet by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing grief over the tragic accident.
India is home to hundreds of railway crossings that are unmanned and particularly accident prone, with motorists often ignoring oncoming train warnings.
Nearly 15,000 people die on the country's railways every year, according to a 2012 government report.
India's state railways, largely built during colonial rule, have an appalling safety record after decades of underinvestment in rail safety infrastructure, as the priority has remained more on keeping fares low for the 23 million passengers who use the network daily.
A derailment in August 2017, which killed 23 people, was the fourth major accident within the span of a year on the world's fourth biggest rail network.