JALGAON, Jan 23: The number of fatalities in the Jalgaon train accident has risen to 13 following the discovery of a headless body along the railway tracks, police reported on Thursday.
Passengers aboard the Mumbai-bound Pushpak Express, who disembarked after a chain-pulling incident, were tragically struck by the Karnataka Express, which was traveling from Bengaluru to Delhi on adjacent tracks in Jalgaon district, Maharashtra, on Wednesday evening.
“Out of the 13 fatalities, eight bodies have been identified so far, including two through their Aadhaar cards,” stated Special Inspector General of Police Dattatraya Karale in an update to PTI.
Among the identified individuals, four were from Nepal, as noted by Jalgaon district information officer Yuvraj Patil.
Of the 15 people injured in the incident, 10 are currently receiving medical care—nine at Pachora civil hospital and one in Jalgaon city—while the others with minor injuries have been discharged, he added.
Meanwhile, the Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai around 1:20 AM on Thursday, according to a railway spokesperson.
The general manager of Central Railway and other senior officials visited the site of the accident at night, examining the area and the hospitals where the injured were taken for treatment.
The tragic event unfolded on Wednesday evening when passengers on the Pushpak Express, fearing a fire, jumped onto the adjacent tracks only to be struck by the approaching Karnataka Express. Officials had previously stated.
The incident occurred between Maheji and Pardhade stations near Pachora town in Jalgaon district when the Pushpak Express came to a stop after someone pulled the chain around 4:45 PM. Central Railway representatives confirmed this detail.
However, Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity at the Railway Board, refuted claims that smoke or fire inside the coach prompted passengers to activate the alarm.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the situation via a video message from Davos, Switzerland, noting that some passengers mistakenly believed smoke was emanating from the train, leading them to jump onto the tracks, where they were unfortunately run over by another train.
The Chief Minister announced a financial compensation of Rs 5 lakh for each of the deceased’s next of kin.
Additionally, the Railway Board declared an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1.5 lakh to the relatives of the deceased, with Rs 50,000 for serious injuries and Rs 5,000 for minor injuries. (Agencies)
