NEW DELHI, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Indian railway authorities Saturday cancelled 37 trains and diverted others after a train ran into crowd sitting on tracks, killing 61 people and injuring over 100 others, officials said.
"Due to Amritsar train tragedy on Amritsar-Manawala railway section, 27 passenger trains and 10 Mail Express trains have been cancelled," an official said. "Besides this 16 trains have been diverted."
A train mowed down a crowd at Jaura Phatak in Amritsar, the Sikh holy city of Punjab, on Friday evening while they were witnessing the celebrations of a Hindu festival Dussehra.
Dussehra is a Hindu festival marking the triumph of good over evil. Effigies are burnt and fireworks are set off as part of the festival in north India.
Railway officials blame local authorities for the tragedy.
"The organizers and local authorities had not informed the railway officials about the event being held so close to the railway tracks," the railway official said.
Eyewitnesses said as the firecracker-filled effigy was lit and fireworks went off, there was lot of noise and people who were hit could not see or hear the train that mowed them.
The local government has described the incident as tragic and ordered an inquiry into the accident.
Meanwhile, state Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has reached Amritsar to visit injured in the hospitals and also to oversee the relief efforts.
Punjab is observing mourning on Saturday in the wake of the incident and all offices and schools have been closed.
Reports said the driver of the train has been detained and is being questioned by the police. The driver reportedly told police that he was given the green all-clear signal to move ahead and he had no idea that hundreds of people were standing on the tracks.
Reports said around 700 people were witnessing the effigy burning and over 300 were on the tracks.
The train that hit the crowds was travelling from Jalandhar to Amritsar city.
Angry residents blame the local government officials for the deaths.
Meanwhile condolence messages from world leaders are pouring in.
"My heart goes to all in Amritsar following Friday's tragic accident. Earlier this month, I was honored to visit the Golden Temple and witnessed the warmth and generosity of the people. My deepest condolences to those who have lost family and loved ones," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement.
