Jalgaon:At least 13 train passengers were killed on Wednesday evening after they jumped off their train over a false fire alarm and were run over by another train on the adjacent tracks in Maharashtra's Jalgaon.
The tragic incident took place near the Paranda railway station, 400 km away from Mumbai, officials said. The passengers were onboard the 12533 Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express. Fearing a blaze, they hastily jumped onto the adjacent tracks and were run over by the oncoming Karnataka Express heading from Bengaluru to Delhi, they said.
Pushpak Express had halted on its track after someone raised a fire alarm around 5 pm. "They jumped to save their lives but the oncoming Karnataka Express heading from Bengaluru to Delhi, ran over them," said Central Railway's chief spokesperson Swapnil Nila.
"Our preliminary information is that there were sparks inside one of the coaches of Pushpak Express due to either hot axle' or `brake-binding' (jamming), and some passengers panicked. They pulled the chain, and some of them jumped down. At the same time, Karnataka Express was passing," a senior railway official told news agency PTI.
'Track curvature affected visibility, braking distance'
A track curvature prima facie affected the visibility for the Karnataka Express train which mowed down the passengers, railway officials said on Thursday.
They said the drivers of both trains followed the protocol and tried their best to avoid the accident. The driver of the Lucknow-CSMT Pushpak Express had turned on the flasher light as per the rule when the train stopped between Maheji and Pardhade stations near Pachora, more than 400 km from Mumbai, a senior Central Railway official said.
The Karnataka Express driver applied brakes after seeing the flasher light signal of Pushpak Express, he said. "However, the visibility of the train (Karnataka Express) and its braking distance was affected by the track curvature," the official said citing preliminary information. Trains run at more than 100 kmph in this section which falls under the trunk route of the Railways, according to officials.
PM Modi, others express grief; Ex-gratia announced
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the tragic train accident. "Anguished by the tragic accident on the railway tracks in Jalgaon, Maharashtra. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of all the injured. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected," the Prime Minister's Office stated in a post on X.
The Railway Ministry announced ex-gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh each for the kin of the deceased. "Ex gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh each has been announced for the kins of the deceased in the Jalgaon train accident, Rs 50,000 to the people who are seriously injured and Rs 5,000 to the people who have sustained minor injuries," the Office of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a statement.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to the families of the victims who died in the Jalgaon train accident on Wednesday. The state government will also bear all the medical expenses of the injured, the CM said.
In a post on X, Fadnavis said, "The tragic incident of the loss of lives in a very unfortunate incident near Pachora in Jalgaon district is deeply distressing. I pay my heartfelt tributes to them. My colleague Minister Girish Mahajan and the Superintendent of Police have reached the spot. The entire district administration is working in coordination with the railway administration, and immediate arrangements are being made for the treatment of the injured."
In a video message from Davos in Switzerland, Fadnavis said, "Some passengers in the train mistakenly assumed that smoke is coming out of the train and they jumped. Unfortunately, they were ran over by another train."
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the incident. "The train accident in Jalgaon, Maharashtra is extremely sad. I spoke to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ji in this regard and took stock of the situation arising after the accident. The local administration is providing all possible help to the injured. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident and wish for the speedy recovery of the injured," Shah wrote on 'X'.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnav also expressed grief over the loss of lives. "The Railway Minister spoke to senior officials of the Railway Board and other officials and took information about the incident. He directed that the treatment of the injured should be done. He also expressed sorrow over the deaths," Railway officials said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished for a speedy recovery of the injured.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge too expressed grief. In a post on X, Kharge, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said, "The news of the death of many people due to the rumour of fire in Pushpak Express in Jalgaon, Maharashtra is very painful. Many people have also been injured."
"Our deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the victims, we pray for the peace of the departed souls. We wish for the speedy recovery of the injured. The government and administration are requested to provide immediate and proper compensation to the victims and strict legal action should be taken against those who spread rumours," he added.
He appealed to the Congress leaders and workers to provide all possible help to the families of the victims in this hour of grief. (Agency inputs)
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