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Tragedy struck on Wednesday as eleven passengers lost their lives after panicking over rumors of a fire aboard their train. In their attempt to escape, they jumped onto the tracks, only to be struck and killed by an oncoming train, according to officials.
This tragic event in western Maharashtra serves as a stark reminder of the fragile state of India’s rail network, a system that, despite ferrying millions of passengers every day, has long struggled with issues of safety and infrastructure decay. Over the years, this vital transport lifeline has witnessed a troubling series of accidents, exposing the extent of the challenges it faces.
“People were run over by a train,” said Ayush Prasad, a top official of Jalgaon district where the accident occurred, some 400 kilometres (250 miles) from the country’s financial hub of Mumbai.
“11 people have died and about five are undergoing treatment.”
The authenticity of the fire alarm remains uncertain at this time. According to a spokesperson from Indian Railways, quoted by local media, the incident was triggered when an individual pulled the “alarm chain” on a train bound for Mumbai. In response, several passengers disembarked, unknowingly putting themselves in harm’s way.
“At that moment, they were run over by another train going in the opposite direction,” the spokesperson said.
Amit Shah, the Interior Minister of India, offered his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, conveying his sadness at the tragic loss. Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, described the incident as “deeply disturbing,” echoing the widespread shock and grief felt across the state.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives,” he said in a post on X.
India has launched a $30 billion railway infrastructure modernisation in a bid to boost the economy and connectivity.
But analysts say that while the number of accidents has gone down over time, India’s antiquated rail system still has a long way to go.
An average of 20,000 people died each year between 2017 and 2021 in rail accidents, according to official records.
In 2023, nearly 300 people were killed when a passenger train and a stationary goods train collided, with the derailed compartments then striking another fast-moving passenger service.