Eleven Killed in India Train Tragedy Following Fire Alarm Panic
Eleven people lost their lives on Wednesday after jumping from a moving train in response to rumours of a fire, only to be struck by an oncoming train in Maharashtra, India.
The tragic incident occurred in Jalgaon district, approximately 400 kilometres from Mumbai, underscoring ongoing safety concerns in India’s railway system, which transports millions of passengers daily and has experienced multiple disasters over the years.
“People were run over by a train,” said Ayush Prasad, a senior district official. “Eleven people have died, and about five others are receiving medical treatment.”
It remains unclear whether the fire alarm was real or a false warning.
A spokesperson for Indian Railways told local media that someone had triggered the emergency alarm on a Mumbai-bound train, prompting several passengers to disembark in a panic. Unfortunately, they were struck by another train moving in the opposite direction.
India’s Interior Minister, Amit Shah, extended his condolences to the families of the victims, while Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, described the tragedy as “deeply disturbing.”
“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives,” Fadnavis wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
India has been investing heavily in modernising its railway infrastructure, with a $30 billion initiative aimed at improving efficiency and safety. However, despite some progress, analysts argue that the rail network remains outdated and in need of further improvements.
Between 2017 and 2021, an average of 20,000 people died annually in railway accidents, according to official data.
One of the deadliest train disasters in recent years occurred in 2023 when nearly 300 people were killed after a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train, causing derailment and a subsequent crash with another fast-moving train.
The latest incident highlights the urgent need for enhanced safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment