Tragic Train Accident in Jalgaon: 10 Passengers Killed After Jumping from Train Due to Rumor of Fire.

Maharashtra:

In a tragic incident in North Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district, at least 10 passengers were killed on Wednesday evening after stepping down from a train following a false rumor of a fire. The victims were run over by another train passing on an adjacent track.

The accident occurred near Maheji and Pardhade stations, close to Pachora, where the Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express had come to a halt around 5 pm. According to Central Railway officials, the train had stopped after someone mistakenly pulled the emergency chain, prompted by a rumor of a fire onboard.

As the Pushpak Express was stationary, some passengers panicked and exited the train. Tragically, they were struck by the oncoming Karnataka Express, which was traveling from Bengaluru to Delhi.

Initial investigations suggest that the confusion may have been caused by sparks inside one of the coaches of the Pushpak Express. These sparks were likely due to a “hot axle” or “brake-binding” issue, which caused some passengers to become alarmed and pull the emergency chain. As the train stopped, several passengers jumped off the train and were hit by the Karnataka Express, which was passing at that moment.

Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan confirmed the incident, stating that 10 to 12 people had died, citing information from the district collector. The accident took place more than 400 km away from Mumbai, and authorities are working to gather more details.

Senior railway officials have reached the site to investigate further. Maharashtra’s Guardian Minister for Jalgaon, Gulabrao Patil, also expressed condolences and said that more information would be made available once a thorough investigation is completed.

The tragic incident highlights the dangers of panic and the importance of ensuring accurate communication during emergencies on trains. Authorities have urged passengers to remain calm and follow safety procedures in such situations.