Jalgaon Rail tragedy: Son’s last memory of mother captured at train station
On Wednesday, Tapendra Bhandari took a photo of his mother, Kamala Bhandari, at Lucknow station as she boarded the Pushpak Express to Mumbai. Hours later, Kamala, 43, died in a horrific accident near Maharashtra’s Jalgaon. The tragedy left Tapendra devastated, holding on to the last memory of his mother.
Authorities reported that passengers in a coach panicked after seeing what they thought were sparks caused by “brake-binding.” Fearing fire, some jumped from the moving train onto parallel tracks. Tragically, the Karnataka Express, coming from the opposite direction, ran over them. The Railway Ministry later clarified there were no sparks in the coach.
The accident, which occurred around 5 p.m., claimed 13 lives, including an 11-year-old boy. Another 15 passengers suffered injuries. Harrowing images showed bodies on the tracks, while survivors, covered in blood, wandered in shock.
Tapendra identified his mother’s body on-site. Heartbreaking visuals captured him clutching scraps of her clothing to his chest. In one moment, he picked up blood-stained pebbles from the tracks, washed them, and held them close, overwhelmed with grief. He later sought help from authorities to transport his mother’s body back home.
Kamala was one of four Nepalese citizens among the deceased. Another victim, Lachchiram Pasi, also from Nepal, had traveled with five day laborers who survived. Pasi’s nephew, Ramrang Pasi, recounted identifying his uncle’s mutilated body, missing parts of his hands and legs.
Two other victims from Nepal included 60-year-old Javakala Bhate and 11-year-old Imtiyaz Ali. The identities of five more victims remain unconfirmed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed condolences. They announced compensation of ₹5 lakh for each victim’s family and pledged to cover medical expenses for the injured. Both leaders were attending the World Economic Forum in Davos when the news broke.
The Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police launched a joint inquiry into the incident. Investigators are looking into the brake-binding claims and the circumstances leading to the panic.
This tragic accident highlights the devastating consequences of misinformation and panic in emergencies. For Tapendra and others, the loss remains deeply personal, leaving families grappling with immense grief.
