Amritsar train accident: Punjab CM orders inquiry, declares 1-day mourning
Chandigarh, Oct 19: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Friday ordered an inquiry into the tragic Amritsar train accident in which at least 58 people were killed and 72 injured and declared one-day mourning in the state on Saturday.
The chief minister, who was scheduled to leave for Israel this evening, has postponed his trip and will fly to Amritsar in the morning to personally supervise relief operations and meet families of the victims of the incident, which occurred during Dussehra festivities, an official statement said.
"The state will remain in mourning tomorrow in view of #Amritsar train mishap. All offices & educational institutions will remain closed," the chief minister tweeted.
"Have set up Crisis Management Group under @BrahmMohindra to monitor relief & rehabilitation efforts in #Amritsar. Won't spare any efforts on part of govt to tackle the crisis," he said in another tweet.
The Group is led by Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, with state minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi as its members.
Acting on the chief minister's directives, Sarkaria and Mohindra have already rushed to Amritsar to supervise rescue and relief operations.
According to Raveen Thukral, media advisor to the chief minister, initial reports suggest the incident occurred during a stampede, as people rushed towards the tracks when crackers went off during 'Ravana dahan'.
Reports suggest that the train ploughed through the crowd on the tracks, leading to the tragedy. So far, 58 people have been confirmed dead and many injured. However, the death toll could rise as relief operations are underway.
Additional police force has been rushed to the spot to control the situation in the wake of the incident.
Punjab's Home Secretary, Health Secretary and DGP (Law & Order) have also left for Amritsar.
Singh has issued orders to mobilize all necessary administrative and police personnel on a war footing to help the district administration tackle the situation.
The chief minister has also directed the chief secretary to deploy administrative officials to ensure that the injured people are hospitalised immediately.
All private hospitals have been asked to remain open to provide urgent free treatment and care to the injured.
The chief minister said a thorough probe will be conducted into the incident. Why an effigy was allowed to be burnt close to the railway tracks will also be investigated.
Expressing condolences to the families of the deceased, the chief minister has announced immediate ex-gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
