UPDATE 1-Train runs over crowd on tracks in northern India, 50 feared dead

A commuter train travelling at high speed struck a crowd of people seated on tracks in northern India on Friday and at least 50 were feared killed, Punjab state police and witnesses said.

"The people were sitting on and near the tracks on the outskirts of Amritsar watching the burning of effigies as part of the Dusshera festival when a commuter train ran over them," a police officer told Reuters.

Reuters partner ANI news agency reported that an eyewitness at the scene said the train that ran over people was travelling at a high speed.

Amarinder Singh, Punjab chief minister, said he was rushing to the state capital Amritsar to supervise relief and rescue operations. "District authorities have been mobilised on a war footing," Singh tweeted.

(With inputs from agencies.)