People gather after a train mishap, in Jalgaon district, Maharashtra, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: In a shocking incident fuelled by a fire rumour, at least 13 people were killed and many others were injured when passengers jumped from the Pushpak Express on to the tracks only to be tragically run over by the Karnataka Express in Jalgaon.
As per latest reports, ten people are undergoing treatment -- three are critical.
The incident took place at around 4 pm in Pachora, around 450 kms away form Mumbai.
Nine of the dead bodies have been identified, and two are from Nepal.
Top officials of the Mumbai-headquartered Central Railway, the Jalgaon district administration and local police have rushed to the spot.
The Maharashtra government has said that the tragedy was a fallout of a rumour of fire by a tea-vendor.
“The incident was a result of a sheer rumour about fire by a tea-seller inside the Pushpak Express, which led to panic and some passengers jumping off and being run-over by the Karnataka Express…the tea-seller from the pantry shouted about a fire having broken out in a coach,” Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar told reporters.
"Two passengers from Shravasti in Uttar Pradesh heard it and conveyed the false alarm to others, leading to confusion and panic in their general coach and the adjoining coach. One of the passengers pulled the alarm chain…some of the passengers, who were scared, jumped off the train from both the sides to save themselves…on one side there was speeding train and people were hit,” he added, adding that couple of passengers, who reportedly spread the rumour, was among those injured in the incident.
"It is a painful incident," Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in a post on X after he reviewed the situation from Davos, where he is currently attending the World Economic Forum meetings.
Fadnavis' trouble-shooter and minister Girish Mahajan has reached the spot and is overseeing the rescue and relief operations.
In Mumbai, Jalgaon guardian minister Gulabrao Patil constantly reviewed the emerging situation.
Meanwhile, Central Railway General Manager Dharam Veer Meena along with top officials visited the hospitals and met the injured persons.
Of the 13 deceased, police have identified eight bodies so far, including four from Nepal.
Of the 25 admitted in hospitals, 15 have been discharged.
Ten of the injured persons are currently in hospitals and among them three are said to be critical.
The Commissioner of Railway Safety for the Central Circle will conduct an investigation into the circumstances that led to the deaths.
According to reports, some people observed sparks and pulled the alarm chain after which several people deboarded resulting in the incident that happened between the Maheji and Pardhane railway stations.
While the Pushpak Express (Train No. 12533) started from Lucknow and was headed towards the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai, the Karnataka Express (Train No. 12627), which started from Bengaluru was headed towards New Delhi.
The incident took place during a sharp curve known as Uskheda Turning.
"When brakes were applied there were sparks. However, some people mistook it as fire and pulled alarm chain" said Patil, pointing out that people travelling in general compartment unfortunately came down. "Just behind that were AC compartments but passengers were inside," he said.
Asked about the speed of the Karnataka Express, he said that it was running at around 130 to 140 kms per hour, which was normal.
CR spokesperson Swapnil Nila said that the alarm chain pulling happened on board the Pushpak Express.
"As the Pushpak Express stopped some people got down and were injured by the passing Karnataka Express," he said.
An investigation has been ordered into the incident.
Jalgaon district Collector and Jalgaon Superintendent of Police too were at the spot." The district administration in coordination with railway authorities are ensuing swift treatment to the patients," said Fadnavis. General and private hospitals are kept on standby.
Emergency tools like glass cutters and floodlights are kept ready.
"We are closely monitoring the situation," he said. "Rescue and relief operations have been launched," said Union Public Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, who hails form Jalgaon.
It is not yet known whether there were some sparks or fire in the train compartment or whether it was a false alarm. Disturbing visuals of the accident spread like wild fire on social media platforms.
The Maharashtra government announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh to the next of kin of deceased.