12 dead on train after rumor of fire sparks panic – DW – 01/23/2025

A rumor that a fire broke out on a moving train in western India caused panic and the death of at least 12 people. Some passengers jumped from the train due to the alleged fire and were hit by another train.

The incident took place in Maharashtra state, between Maheji and Pardhade railway stations, about 410 kilometers (255 miles) northeast of India’s financial capital, Mumbai.

What do we know about the accident?

According to the Press Trust of India news agency, passengers jumped from the Mumbai-bound Pushpak Express train after rumors of a fire. Some passengers pulled on an emergency chain, causing the train to stop.

Those who jumped were hit by another express train passing on the adjacent track, railway spokesperson Swapnil Nila said.

“Our preliminary information indicates that there was sparking inside one of the Pushpak Express carriages due to either a ‘hot axle’ or a ‘seized brake’ (lock), and some passengers panicked,” a senior railway official told PTI.

“They pulled the chain and some of them jumped onto the tracks. At the same time, the Karnataka Express was passing on the neighboring track.”

Efforts to modernize the colonial-era railway

Indian Interior Minister Amit Shah expressed his “deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the families of the victims will receive compensation from the authorities, adding that the state government would also cover the treatment costs of the injured.

India has one of the largest rail systems in the world, but the aging system dates back to British colonial rule and is now prone to fatal accidents every year. An accident in 2023 caused nearly 300 deaths.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has invested billions of dollars in modernizing railway infrastructure. However, analysts say the outdated system in the world’s most populous country still has a long way to go.

rmt/lo (AFP, AP)