Amritsar: Dasehra train tragedy victims’ kin finally get job letters, express satisfaction

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 26

Nearly three years after the Dasehra train tragedy, the kin of victims finally got offer letters from the district administration and other departments on Monday.

“Our efforts have finally bore fruits and now we can hope of living a dignified life,” the beneficiaries said, while expressing satisfaction after getting jobs.

Nearly three years after the Jaura Phatak (twin railway crossing) tragedy in Amritsar, which claimed over 50 lives in 2018, the state government have finally issued orders to give jobs to 34 family members of the deceased. The orders were issued by the Chief Secretary, Personnel Department, on Sunday, which have been forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner and other authorities for necessary action and completion of formalities such as police verification, medical examination and verification of educational qualification.

The families were struggling for the same for over a year seeking government jobs as promised by the Punjab Government at the time of tragedy, which had snatched away the lives of several breadwinners.

The beneficiaries will be accommodated at the Deputy Commissioner’s office (9), Civil Surgeon’s office (4), Municipal Corporation (10), Education Department (10) and Amritsar Improvement Trust (1).

Deepak Kumar, a beneficiary who lost his father Gurinder Kumar, a fruit vendor, in the tragic rail mishap said we are happy to get this job after two years and nine months of struggle.

“I have a mother, younger brother and sister to feed. It was very difficult time while Covid also aggravated our problems,” he said. Deepak also lost his paternal uncle Pawan Kumar in the incident. His aunt Seeta Devi got the job at Amritsar Improvement Trust.

Aman Kaur, another beneficiary, said though she was happy to get the job, the accused responsible for the tragedy should also be punished. She lost her husband in the tragedy. “Nothing can compensate the loss of a family member, but getting a government job is satisfying,” said Gagandeep Singh, a resident of Phagwara. He had lost his wife and a young child in the unfortunate incident.

Aarti Sharma, a resident of Bagh Ramanand, whose brother Rohit Sharma died in the incident, said she took tuitions at her house to support her father, who has meagre income.