At least 12 people were killed and 11 injured on Wednesday evening in India, following a tragic incident where passengers disembarked from a train amid fire fears, only to be struck by an oncoming train, local authorities reported. The chaos unfolded around 5 p.m. in Maharashtra State, approximately 170 miles northeast of Mumbai. Passengers aboard the Pushpak Express, which was en route from Lucknow to Mumbai, reportedly panicked after rumors of a fire spread throughout the train.
Witness accounts indicate that as the train halted, a significant number of passengers rushed to exit, leading to them being hit by the Karnataka Express, which was traveling on an adjacent track. The situation was dire, resulting in severe injuries among victims, many of whom were migrant workers.
Police inspector Ashok Pawar confirmed that seven of the deceased were from Nepal while four hailed from Uttar Pradesh. Unfortunately, one victim remains unidentified. Families of those lost are currently gathered in Jalgaon for further updates. Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra’s top government official, stated that ambulances were dispatched, and financial support will be extended to the victims' families.
This incident raises significant concerns regarding train safety in India, where millions depend on the country's vast railway system. Despite substantial government investments aimed at improving rail safety and implementing high-tech measures, accidents continue to occur with alarming frequency. Previous tragedies, including a catastrophic crash in Odisha in 2023, which claimed 290 lives, underscore the persistent challenges within India’s railway network.
