At least 11 individuals lost their lives, and five others sustained injuries after panicking passengers abandoned their train in Maharashtra, India, prompted by unfounded rumors of a fire. The railway incident occurred when the Mumbai-bound train halted following the activation of the emergency cord, leading some passengers to flee onto an adjacent track where they were subsequently hit by another train. Rail officials have yet to confirm the presence of a fire aboard the train.
This tragedy comes in the wake of India's ambitious $30 million initiative to enhance its railway infrastructure, a project already shadowed by a series of fatal accidents, including a devastating three-train collision in Odisha in 2023 that resulted in nearly 300 deaths. Maharashtra's Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, expressed his sorrow on social media platform X, stating he was "deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives" in the incident, which unfolded near Pachora in Jalgaon district—around 400 kilometers from Mumbai, the country's economic hub.
In response to this latest calamity, eight ambulances were dispatched to the scene, and local hospitals were put on high alert to cater to any emergencies. The collision poses a significant setback for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has championed railway modernization as vital for economic growth and improved connectivity. Reports suggest an increase in funding for the railway program is expected in next month's budget discussions.
