At least 11 people lost their lives, and six to seven others were injured after being struck by a train in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district on Wednesday. The tragedy occurred when passengers aboard the Pushpak Express, alarmed by a suspected fire, jumped off the train and were hit by the Karnataka Express traveling on an adjacent track.

The Pushpak Express, running from Lucknow to Mumbai, was near Jalgaon when rumors of a fire in one of its coaches caused panic. A railway official said that sparks, possibly due to a “hot axle” or “brake-binding,” led to fears of a fire onboard. In response, passengers activated the emergency chain to halt the train. Several passengers, attempting to escape the perceived danger, jumped off and landed on the parallel track, where they were struck by the Karnataka Express, traveling from Bengaluru to Delhi.

“After the chain was pulled, several passengers disembarked from one of the coaches. Unfortunately, the Karnataka Express hit several of them,” said Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer (CRPO) of Central Railway.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed deep sorrow over the incident and confirmed that eight ambulances had been dispatched to the accident site. Nearby hospitals were placed on alert to treat the injured.

“This tragic incident near Pachora in Jalgaon district is deeply painful. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. My colleague, Minister Girish Mahajan, along with the Superintendent of Police, has reached the site, and the District Collector is on the way. The district administration is working in coordination with the railway authorities to ensure immediate medical assistance for the injured,” Fadnavis said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed grief over the incident, offering condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. He directed authorities to ensure proper medical care and support for the affected families.