Lagatar24 Desk
Jalgaon: A tragic incident near Pachora in Jalgaon district, Maharashtra, claimed the lives of 11 passengers on Tuesday evening. Panic ensued after a rumour of fire spread on the Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express, leading passengers to jump off the train, only to be struck by the oncoming Karnataka Express.
The mishap occurred between Maheji and Pardhade stations around 5 PM when the Pushpak Express halted after its emergency chain was pulled, said Central Railway officials. The Karnataka Express, traveling from Bengaluru to Delhi, was passing on an adjacent track at the time of the accident.
According to Swapnil Nila, Chief Spokesperson for Central Railway, initial investigations suggest that sparks inside a Pushpak Express coach, possibly caused by a “hot axle” or “brake-binding,” led to the chaos. “Some passengers panicked, pulled the chain, and jumped onto the tracks,” a senior railway official stated.
An Accident Relief Train was dispatched from Bhusaval, and efforts are underway to provide medical aid to the injured passengers. Distressing images from the scene showed bodies scattered along the tracks, with injured passengers covered in blood.
Chief Minister’s Response
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the incident, assuring swift action and support. “The tragic loss of lives near Pachora in Jalgaon is deeply distressing. My heartfelt condolences to the victims,” he posted on X.
He added that eight ambulances have been dispatched, and both government and private hospitals are ready to treat the injured. Emergency equipment such as glass cutters and floodlights are being deployed at the site.
Guardian Minister’s Update
Maharashtra Minister Gulabrao Patil, the guardian minister of Jalgaon, confirmed that senior officials are reaching the accident site to oversee rescue operations.
