Amritsar Train Tragedy: Russian President Vladimir Putin offers condolences

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday offered condolences to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the deaths of 59 people in the tragic Amritsar train accident during the Dusshera celebrations.

“I offer my deepest sympathies over tragic consequences of an accident on railways in Punjab. I ask to convey my words of sympathy and support to families and friends of killed people and to wish the soonest recovery to those injured,” a Kremlin statement shared on its official website said.

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As many as 59 people were killed while scores others sustained serious injuries after a DMU train ran over a crowd gathered near the tracks to watch the effigy of demon-king Ravan burning.

The authorities said that the death toll could likely go up as many of the injured were in critical condition. As the Ravan effigy set on fire and firecrackers went off in the sky, people could not hear the sound of the train approaching them.

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However, few were lucky to notice the closed level crossing, an indication of a train, but others standing on tracks for a better and safe view were crushed by the speeding train.