16 people were killed and 20 others injured in a horrific train accident near Pardhade station in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra on Wednesday evening. The incident took place when around 40 passengers jumped off the Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express due to a rumour of fire in the train. Unfortunately, these passengers were hit by the Karnataka Express passing by at the same time. Rescue operations were immediately launched, and the injured have been admitted to the Jalgaon Civil Hospital. The railway administration and local authorities played a vital role in the relief and rescue operations.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed deep condolences on this tragic incident. He is currently on a tour to Davos, but he expressed condolences while giving information to the media and took stock of the situation from the District Magistrate. Fadnavis has announced that the families of each deceased will be given financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Also, the entire cost of treatment of the injured will be borne by the government. Minister Girish Mahajan has reached the spot, where he is coordinating relief and rescue operations.
Due to the impact of this accident, rail services between Lucknow-Mumbai and Mumbai-Delhi were affected, but due to the prompt efforts of the railway administration, the services have now become normal. Pushpak Express has also been sent to Mumbai. District officer Bhushan Ahire said that teams have so far recovered the bodies of 16 passengers from the spot and the injured have been admitted to the district hospital. The administration is insisting on strict implementation of railway safety protocols to prevent such accidents in future, so that the safety of passengers can be ensured.
