Rita Odafe
On January 22, a tragic accident in India resulted in the deaths of eleven individuals after a fire rumor on their train prompted them to jump off, leading to them being hit by an oncoming train, according to officials.
This incident took place in Maharashtra state, about 400 kilometers from Mumbai.
“Victims were struck by another train,” stated Ayush Prasad, a senior official from the Jalgaon district where the event unfolded.
“Eleven people have died, and around five are receiving medical assistance.”
The authenticity of the fire alarm remains uncertain.
An Indian Railways representative mentioned to local outlets that the “alarm chain” had been activated on a train bound for Mumbai, prompting several passengers to exit the train.
“During that time, they were hit by a train coming from the opposite direction,” added the spokesperson.
The interior minister of India, Amit Shah, extended his “sincere condolences to the families affected by this tragedy.”
Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the “unfortunate incident” as “extremely disturbing.”
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life,” he shared on X.
Official statistics indicate that from 2017 to 2021, roughly 20,000 individuals lost their lives in rail-related accidents in India. In 2023, about 300 fatalities occurred when a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train, resulting in derailed cars hitting another speeding passenger train.
