Mumbai: A horrific accident in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district on Wednesday claimed the lives of at least 10 passengers, with several others injured, after they were struck by the Karnataka Express. The incident occurred around 4:20 PM near Pachora station, leaving the region in shock.
The tragedy unfolded when passengers aboard the Pushpak Express, traveling from Lucknow to Mumbai, panicked due to rumors of a fire on board. In their haste to escape, some passengers jumped off the moving train, landing on an adjacent track. Unbeknownst to them, the Karnataka Express, running in the opposite direction from New Delhi to Bengaluru, was speeding through and collided with those on the tracks.
Local villagers were the first to respond, rushing to the scene to help those trapped or thrown by the impact. District officials and rescue teams arrived shortly after to coordinate the response and provide aid. Ambulances, including those from the Railways, were deployed to transport the injured to hospitals in the area.
“The exact number of casualties and the condition of the injured are yet to be confirmed,” a senior railway official said. Early reports suggest at least eight fatalities, but authorities fear the number may rise as rescue efforts continue.
The cause of the suspected fire remains unclear, and authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident.
Praveen Gedam, Divisional Commissioner of Nashik, stated: “We are coordinating closely with railway officials. Eight ambulances have already reached the spot, and additional rescue vehicles are on their way. Hospitals in the area have been activated, and all necessary measures are being taken to provide immediate care to the injured.”