Nearly three years after 59 lives were lost in an unfortunate Dussehra train tragedy in Amritsar railway crossing, the Punjab Government on Sunday finally issued orders to give jobs to 34 kin of the deceased.
At least 59 people were killed and over 70 sustained injuries in the tragic incident near Jaura Phatak in Amritsar on October 19 in 2019 when a speeding train had mowed down spectators watching Dussehra celebrations from railway tracks.
The order, issued by the Chief Secretary (Personnel), has been forwarded to Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Khaira and other authorities concerned for further action and completing the formalities like police verification, medical and educational qualification, before making the final appointment and issuing appointment letters.
The jobs have been offered in the office of Deputy Commissioner, Civil Surgeon, Municipal Corporation, Education Department, and Improvement Trust.
Notably, the victim families have been holding protests against the State Government and local administration for its failure to provide the promised jobs to the kin of the deceased. Recently, these families had also written to the Chief Minister seeking jobs.
Punjab Government had given its nod to provide jobs to the undisputed cases while several cases were still pending with the Government owing to some disputes.
The State Cabinet, in March 2021, had decided to provide government jobs to the victim’s families during its meeting.
Earlier, the Central and the State Governments had given an ex-gratia of Rs two lakhs and Rs five lakh, respectively.
It may be recalled that former MLA and Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife, Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu was the chief guest of the Dussehra event. After the incident, the Sidhu couple had promised to provide government jobs to the kin of each victim, to adopt children who had lost their earning parents, and help widows meet life expenses.
A magisterial probe was ordered, following which the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had ordered stern action against all those found responsible for the Amritsar train mishap. The inquiry had also made it clear that Dr Navjot Kaur had no role in organizing the event.
The probe found the gateman of the railway crossing at Jaura Phatak and the organizers of the event accountable for various acts of omissions and commissions leading to the unfortunate tragedy.
The inquiry had revealed an alarming situation as regulation and supervision of an event at a public place or government land was concerned. The comprehensive report, which was based on interviews with all the people affected and various officials concerned from the district administration and the railways, had also examined all the aspects related to the tragedy.
The inquiry report had observed that while the spectators “committed the mistake” of watching this event from rail tracks, the organizers held this event without any permission and without undertaking required safety and security measures.
The report also blamed the Police and the Municipal Corporation functionaries for their failure to enforce the law and showing unwanted generosity, while the key rail employees failed to take safety and security measures even after having full knowledge of presence of a large number of people on and around the rail tracks.
It further pointed that the organisers were not having any approval or permission required for holding this event of Dussehra celebration including Ravan Dahan at Dhobi Ghat and they held the event in an illegal manner, compromising the safety and security of spectators' life.