Panic turns fatal: Rumor of fire forces passengers to jump off train, run over by another
by ShravyaAt least 12 passengers of the Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express tragically lost their lives, and 15 others were injured in a devastating train accident triggered by panic over a false fire rumor.
The incident took place between Maheji and Pardhade stations near Pachora town in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, India, on January 22.
Visuals show several passengers lying dead and injured off the tracks, with some individuals far from the railway lines.
According to reports, the tragedy unfolded when passengers of the Lucknow-CSMT Pushpak Express, fearing a fire inside the train, hastily jumped onto the adjacent tracks. Unfortunately, they were run over by the oncoming Bengaluru-New Delhi Karnataka Express (Train No. 12627).
The Lucknow-CSMT Pushpak Express had halted after someone pulled the emergency chain around 4:45 pm. According to the railway protocols, the driver turned on the flasher light to let the train know that the station is still on. However, the driver of the Karnataka Express, despite applying the brakes upon noticing the flasher light, could not avoid the accident due to reduced visibility caused by track curvature.
Railway Board Executive Director Dilip Kumar clarified that there was no actual fire or spark inside the Pushpak Express, and the alarm was pulled due to passengers’ mistaken assumptions.
In a video message from Davos, Switzerland, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his condolences and announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each for the families of the deceased. He also assured the public that emergency measures, including the deployment of ambulances and readiness of hospitals, were immediately put into action.
The Railway Board separately announced an ex-gratia of ₹1.5 lakh (1735.88 USD) each to the kin of the deceased, ₹50,000 (578.59 USD) for those with serious injuries, and ₹5,000 (57.85 USD) for minor injuries. Manoj Arora, Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Central Circle, confirmed an investigation is underway to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the accident. He is scheduled to visit the site on January 23.
Despite the tragedy, railway officials efficiently cleared the accident site. The Pushpak Express departed within 15 minutes, while the Karnataka Express resumed its journey within 20 minutes of the incident.
The accident has sparked concerns over passenger safety and the need for better communication and awareness protocols in emergencies. Residents in the area have also emphasized the importance of improving railway infrastructure to prevent such mishaps in the future.
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