A 13-year-old boy from Hisar, Haryana, lost his life after a decades-old peepal tree collapsed inside the Amritsar railway station complex on Monday, around 2 am. The incident occurred near the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) free bus service stop, where a group of 15 pilgrims, known as a Jatha, was waiting for the bus.
Victim Identified as Rajpreet Singh
The victim was identified as Rajpreet Singh, an Amritdhari Sikh, who was trapped under the tree and declared dead on the spot. The tree fell suddenly, triggering panic among the pilgrims and local residents present at the station. Railway police officials took the body into custody and sent it for post-mortem examination. The body will be handed over to the family after completion of legal formalities, officials said.
SGPC Officials Express Condolences
Following the tragedy, SGPC officials, including Golden Temple manager Bikramjit Singh, visited the bereaved family and expressed condolences. They assured the family of all possible assistance. The incident has raised concerns about safety at railway stations, particularly around old trees that may pose risks to passengers.
Background of the Incident
The peepal tree, which was decades old, was located within the station complex. The free bus service run by SGPC is a popular facility for pilgrims visiting the Golden Temple. The Jatha was waiting at the stop when the tree collapsed without warning. Local residents and railway staff rushed to help, but Rajpreet Singh succumbed to his injuries.
Police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances of the collapse. No other injuries were reported in the incident.
