In a horrific incident, at least 58 people watching a burning Ravan effigy, while standing on railway tracks were crushed by a speeding train here in Punjab on Friday. A large number of people were watching a huge Ravan effigy in flames while standing on the tracks at a railway crossing at Jora Phatak when the train on the way from Pathankot to Amritsar mowed them down, triggering anger and outrage.

It was not clear why the train did not halt despite the presence of so many people on the tracks and why the railway crossing was left open for people to gather there. Witnesses said as the effigy was set on fire amid exploding crackers, many of the around 700 people gathered at the event moved back from the flames only to end up standing on the tracks. "Out of nowhere came the train," said a man, sounding angry. "Before anyone could realise what was happening, it ran over scores of people."