Train accident today: At least 12 people were killed after they being hit by the Bengaluru Express in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district, railway officials said. The catastrophic train accident occured near the Paranda railway station at 4.19 pm on Wednesday.
According to railway officials, the tragedy unfolded when passengers aboard the Pushpak Express, fearing a potential fire after smoke emanated from the train’s wheels, hastily jumped onto the tracks in an attempt to escape. The train was heading from Lucknow to Mumbai. The sudden movement of passengers onto the tracks set the stage for the ensuing disaster.
At that very moment, the Bengaluru Express, traveling in the opposite direction, collided with the passengers who had jumped onto the tracks.
“Some passengers of the Pushpak Express stepped down, and were hit by the oncoming Karnataka Express,” said Central Railway’s chief spokesperson Swapnil Nila.
The accident spot is more than 400 km away from Mumbai.
“Our preliminary information is that there were sparks inside one of the coaches of Pushpak Express due to either hot axle' orbrake-binding’ (jamming), and some passengers panicked. They pulled the chain, and some of them jumped down. At the same time, Karnataka Express was passing,” a senior railway official told PTI.
“Senior officials are reaching the spot, after which more information will be available,” said Maharashtra minister Gulabrao Patil who is also the guardian minister of Jalgaon.
Pushpak Express accident: Condolences pour in
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called the incident extremely unfortunate and deeply distressing.
“The tragic incident of the loss of lives in a very unfortunate incident near Pachora in Jalgaon district is deeply distressing. I pay my heartfelt tributes to them,” he wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“My colleague Minister Girish Mahajan and the Superintendent of Police have reached the spot, and the District Collector will reach there shortly. The entire district administration is working in coordination with the railway administration, and immediate arrangements are being made for the treatment of the injured. 8 ambulances have been dispatched. The general hospital as well as other nearby private hospitals have been kept ready for the treatment of the injured. Emergency equipment like glass cutters, floodlights etc. have also been kept ready. We are monitoring the entire situation and all necessary assistance is being provided immediately. I am in touch with the district administration,” he added.
