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A tragic train accident in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon region has claimed the lives of 13 passengers after a fire rumor caused panic. The incident occurred on a-track crossing near Pachora, where the Daily Superfast Express (Pushpak Express), bound for Mumbai from Lucknow, halted due to therumor. Passengers who panicked and pulled the chain were crushed by an incoming train, the Karnataka Express.
Central Railway officials confirmed that sparks inside one of the Pushpak Express coaches likely originated from issues such as “hot axle” or “brake-binding,” leading passengers to panic and act impulsively. Rescue operations have been launched with an accident relief train dispatched from Bhusaval.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his anguish over the accident, conveying condolences to affected families and praying for quicker recovery of all injured passengers. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh per family to those who lost loved ones in the tragedy. State government will bear all treatment costs for injured passengers, with state officials personally overseeing rescue efforts and police presence at the site.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah condoled the loss of lives and discussed the incident with Fadnavis, emphasizing the need for immediate medical aid and stronger safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
This accident underscores the importance of passenger safety protocols and the critical role played by authorities in mitigating such tragedies.
Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/passengers-jump-off-train-after-fire-rumour-hit-by-another-at-least-8-injured-7533731