New Delhi: At least 11 people were killed and 6 others were injured when some passengers of Mumbai bound Pushpak Express pulled the chain and stepped on the railway tracks only to be crushed by an incoming train in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra on Wednesday evening. Four to five people are said to be in critical condition.
Reports suggest that the passengers of Pushpak Express panicked after rumours spread that a fire has broken out in the train prompting passengers to jump off the train. Reports also said that passengers from two general compartments pulled the chain and started to jump off the train on both sides. As the Bengaluru Express approached from the opposite direction, the disembarked passengers were hit by the train.
What the passenger captured on phone
Several videos of the train tragedy have gone viral on social media. A passenger from another train moving near the tragedy spot captured the horror showing bodies lying near the railway tracks. A row of bodies covered in white sheets lay on the ground besides tracks. There has been confirmation of 11 deaths in the incident, said Dr Swapnil, CPRO Central Railway.
The victims were crushed by approaching Bengaluru Express train near Maharashtra’s Jalgaon station. The tragedy took place between Jalgaon and Paranda railway stations when he Pushpak Express, travelling from Lucknow, was on its way to Mumbai.
The accident took place between 3.30pm and 4pm. Some eyewitnesses claim that Bengaluru Express did not even blow horn to warn the passengers who stood at the tracks. Locals said that had the train driver blew the horn, many lives would have been saved.
Railway issues statement
“An Alarm Chain Pulling (ACP) occurred in Train No 12533 Lucknow-CSMT Pushpak Express, in the UP direction, between Maheji and Pardhane. The train stopped at the spot, and some passengers got down from the Pushpak Express. Seven to eight people were injured by the passing Train No. 12627 Bengaluru-New Delhi Express in the DN direction on the nearby track at around 5 pm,” said railways in a statement.
Railways said it is making arrangements to send ambulances to the spot in coordination with the local administration. “An Accident Relief Train has been dispatched from Bhusaval, and Central Railway is making all efforts to provide medical aid to the injured passengers,” the Railways said.
