Tragedy on tracks: 12 Dead in Jalgaon as passengers flee Pushpak Express fire rumor, hit by Karnataka Express

At least 12 passengers of the Mumbai-bound Pushpak Express died on Wednesday evening in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district. They jumped off the train after a rumor of fire spread and were struck by the incoming Karnataka Express on adjacent tracks. Ten others sustained injuries, with four in critical condition.

The incident occurred around 5 p.m. near Pachora, between Maheji and Pardhane stations. Officials said sparks from emergency brakes triggered the panic. The train had stopped suddenly after an alarm chain-pulling event. Gulabrao Patil, Jalgaon’s Guardian Minister, said the sparks made passengers believe the train had caught fire. Fearing for their lives, they jumped out of the general compartment. Unfortunately, the Karnataka Express, traveling at over 130 kmph, hit them.

Railways confirmed there was no fire. Dr. Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railways, stated, “Passengers got off the train after a chain-pulling incident and were hit by the Karnataka Express. We are investigating the exact cause.”

Jalgaon District Collector Ayush Prasad reported that the victims included nine men and three women. Among them, three were Nepal nationals. Officials identified six bodies, including those of the Nepalese passengers. The injured received treatment at local hospitals, and emergency teams remained on high alert.

Railway officials highlighted the challenges posed by the curved tracks at the site. The Pushpak Express driver activated flasher lights as per protocol. However, the curvature limited visibility, preventing the Karnataka Express driver from braking in time. This curve also obstructed passengers from seeing the oncoming train.

The Pushpak Express was traveling from Lucknow to Mumbai, while the Karnataka Express was en route from Bengaluru to New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy. On X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Anguished by the tragic accident on the railway tracks in Jalgaon, Maharashtra. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

The Railway Ministry launched a probe into the incident. It announced compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh for the deceased, Rs 50,000 for the critically injured, and Rs 5,000 for those with minor injuries. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ordered officials to ensure proper medical care for the injured.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced financial aid of Rs 5 lakh for families of the deceased. He also assured free medical treatment for all injured passengers. The state government dispatched eight ambulances to the site and kept nearby hospitals on standby. Emergency tools, including glass cutters and floodlights, were prepared for immediate use.

Jalgaon officials coordinated relief efforts with railway authorities. They sent an Accident Relief Train from Bhusaval to assist rescue operations. Fadnavis stated that Minister Girish Mahajan and the district superintendent of police were present at the site. “We are closely monitoring the situation and providing all necessary assistance without delay,” he said.

Most of the affected passengers were from Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences and promised support to the victims’ families. Meanwhile, Central Railways ensured continued medical aid and relief for those affected by the tragedy.