GG News Bureau
Jalgaon, 22nd Jan. Panic gripped passengers of the Pushpak Express near Pardhade station in Jalgaon on Wednesday after a rumour of fire onboard led to chaos. In the ensuing commotion, several passengers jumped off the halted train and were struck by the passing Karnataka Express on the adjoining track, Central Railway officials confirmed.
The Pushpak Express, a daily superfast train operating between Lucknow and Mumbai, came to an abrupt halt around 5 pm after someone pulled the emergency chain. Preliminary investigations suggest the panic was triggered by sparks in one of the coaches, likely caused by a “hot axle” or “brake-binding,” according to Central Railway’s chief spokesperson Swapnil Nila.
“Some passengers panicked, pulled the chain, and jumped onto the tracks. Tragically, Karnataka Express was passing on the parallel track at the same time,” a senior railway official told PTI.
Grim visuals from the scene showed bodies strewn along the tracks, with some injured passengers wandering in a daze, covered in blood.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed profound grief over the incident and assured that all possible assistance was being provided. “The tragic incident near Pachora in Jalgaon district is deeply distressing. I pay my heartfelt tributes to those who lost their lives,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He added that 8 ambulances had been dispatched, with hospitals prepared to treat the injured. Emergency equipment, including glass cutters and floodlights, was made ready. Minister Girish Mahajan, along with senior district officials, rushed to the scene to oversee rescue operations.
Gulabrao Patil, the Guardian Minister of Jalgaon, also confirmed that senior officials were en route to the site to ensure swift action.
The accident site, located over 400 km from Mumbai, remains under close monitoring by railway and district authorities as rescue efforts continue.
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