4 days later, city back on track

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 23

As the three-day mourning in Amritsar announced by the government in the wake of tragic train mishap ended today, the holy city seems to be limping back to normalcy.

However, a heavy police force and RAFcommandoes are still deployed along the rail track at the mishap spot — Joda Phatak at Golden Avenue. Newly appointed gateman Dwarka Das said their duties had been fixed on a rotational basis in three shifts. The one who was posted on October 19 has been sent on leave.

Mahesh Kumar, JE, said the mob had attacked the guardroom and broken the automated electronic operation module. “We faced difficulty in bringing down the barrier manually, but now it has been rectified,” he said. MCofficials have started the exercise of gauging the exact ‘location plan’.

Suresh Kumar, architect, MC, visited the site with his team to measure distance between the level crossing and its surroundings, type of buildings along the tracks and other obstacles, if any.

“In collaboration with the police, we will prepare a report covering the Joda Phatak and the site of the accident. This finding will be part of the government probe,” he said.

Meanwhile, children attended schools and traders in the locality opened their shops. Dilip, a juice vendor, and Harjot Singh, who runs an AC repair shop, opened their business after three days, but the heart-wrenching scenes of the fateful day still haunt them.

To rehabilitate the victims, Cabinet Minister Navjot Sidhu has announced to adopt children, who lost their parents, and take the responsibility of the affected families in his personal capacity. Sidhu said he had already started identifying the affected families. He said he would approach the public sector to absorb the needy as per their skills and requirement.

“I and my wife will bear their education and other living expenses. I also take the responsibility of the persons who became disabled and will look after the elderly who have lost the breadwinner of their family,” he said.

Give jobs to kin: Bajwa to railways

Chandigarh: Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa has urged the Railways to provide jobs to the families of those killed in the mishap. In a communication to Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, the MP said while the state was doing its part, the Railways could not run away from its responsibility. “True accountability can only be achieved if all stakeholders commit themselves to a transparent inquiry,” he said. TNS