Tragic Train Collision Kills 12 in India Amid Panic Over Fire Rumors

Authorities are investigating the disaster that highlights ongoing safety concerns despite modern railway initiatives in India.

At least 12 individuals lost their lives and another 11 were injured on Wednesday evening in Maharashtra, India, when they stepped off the Pushpak Express train amid fears of a fire, only to be struck by the Karnataka Express traveling on an adjacent track, local officials reported. The chaotic scene unfolded around 5 p.m. when rumors of a fire engulfing the train sparked panic among passengers.

The Pushpak Express was en route from Lucknow to Mumbai, and as the rumors intensified, passengers began to leave the train, which had come to a halt. Ashok Pawar, a police inspector with the Pachora police station, noted that many of these travelers were migrant workers. The sudden evacuation resulted in the passengers being hit by the passing Karnataka Express, with several sustaining critical injuries.

The local authorities confirmed that seven of the deceased were from Nepal, four from Uttar Pradesh, and one victim remains unidentified. Maheswar Reddy, the superintendent of police in Jalgaon District, stated that a thorough investigation is underway to determine whether there was an actual fire or if the panic was triggered by malicious rumors.

Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra's chief government official, announced that immediate support, including ambulances and financial aid for victims' families, has been arranged. This tragedy raises significant safety questions regarding train travel in India, a nation reliant on an extensive but often dangerous rail network. Despite recent government investments into rail safety and technology-enhanced initiatives, accidents persist.

India has experienced some of the worst train disasters in history, including a catastrophic crash in Odisha in 2023 that resulted in 290 fatalities. Recent months have also seen additional tragedies, such as the collision of a freight and passenger train in Tripura that left at least eight dead.