12 killed as passengers get down on tracks, crushed by another train
   Date :23-Jan-2025

rail accident
 People gather at the site following the death of several passengers after they stepped down due to a rumour of fire and were run over by another train passing on the adjacent tracks, in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district on Wednesday. (PTI)
 
JALGAON :
 
AT LEAST 12 passengers were killed on Wednesday evening when they jumped from their Mumbai-bound train in panic due to a false fire alarm, only to be tragically run over by another train on the adjacent tracks here, officials said. The tragedy unfolded when passengers onboard the 12533 Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express, fearing a blaze when sparks flew from the train’s wheels, hastily jumped onto the adjacent tracks and were run over by the oncoming Karnataka Express heading from Bengaluru to Delhi, they said.
 
As many as 15 other passengers were injured in the accident, which took place between Maheji and Pardhade stations near Pachora town in North Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district, when Pushpak Express halted after someone pulled the chain around 4.45 pm, Central Railway officials said. In a video message from Davos in Switzerland, Chief Minister Devendra 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.” He announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of the kin of the passengers who died in the tragedy, while the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Central Circle, will probe the circumstances leading to the accident.
 
“The tragic loss of lives in a very unfortunate incident near Pachora in Jalgaon district (which) is deeply distressing. I pay my heartfelt tributes to them,” Fadnavis posted on X. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde said prima facie passengers of Pushpak Express jumped off the train amid rumours of a fire on board the train. Special Inspector General of Police Dattatraya Karale told PTI that a “fire incident” occurred on Pushpak Express. The train stopped, and some passengers disembarked and stepped on the tracks when they were run over by New Delhi-bound Karnataka Express, he added. Jalgaon district information officer Yuvraj Patil said 12 passengers were killed in the tragedy, while 15 others were injured. Pushpak Express departed from the spot in just 15 minutes, while the Karnataka Express was removed within 20 minutes.