NEW DELHI — A tragic incident unfolded on Wednesday when at least 12 train passengers lost their lives in western India after jumping from their coaches in alarm over a supposed fire. In their desperate attempt to escape, they were struck by another train traveling on an adjacent track, according to reports from local news agencies.
At least six more individuals sustained injuries and were promptly transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment, as stated by police officer Dattatraya Karale.
The unfortunate event took place in Maharashtra State, close to the Pardhade railway station, located approximately 410 kilometers (255 miles) southwest of Mumbai, India’s financial hub.
According to reports, passengers aboard the Pushpak Express train, which had halted due to an emergency chain being pulled, leaped from the train. Tragically, as they exited, they were struck by the Karnataka Express, another express train that was traversing the neighboring track, explained railway spokesperson Swapnil Nila.
Preliminary investigations indicated that sparks were reportedly seen within one of the Pushpak Express’s coaches, caused by either a “hot axle” or “brake binding,” which incited panic among the passengers. Some of them pulled the emergency chain, leading to their jumping onto the tracks, while the Karnataka Express was approaching on the adjacent track.
Despite ongoing government initiatives aimed at enhancing rail safety, India experiences hundreds of railway accidents annually, given that it operates the largest rail network managed under a single authority in the world.
Earlier in 2023, a catastrophic collision between two passenger trains occurred in eastern India, resulting in the deaths of over 280 individuals and injuring hundreds, marking one of the deadliest rail disasters in recent history.
In response to such incidents, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is concentrating efforts on modernizing the antiquated railroad system dating back to the British colonial era, as India now holds the title of the world’s most populous nation with a population of 1.42 billion.
