Fire Rumors Lead to Deadly Train Crash in India

(CLO) This morning, a tragic accident in India left 11 people dead and 5 injured after they jumped onto the train tracks in a panic.

Passengers on the Pushpak Express, running from Lucknow to Mumbai, heard rumours of a fire on board and panicked, prompting many to rush to apply the emergency brakes and jump onto the tracks as the train approached Jalgaon district in Maharashtra state.

Train in India. Photo: rlerdorf

According to Ayush Prasad, a district official of Jalgaon district, the people who jumped onto the tracks were hit by the Karnataka Express coming from the opposite direction. Although the exact cause of the fire is not yet known, an Indian railway official said it could have been caused by an overheated axle or the train's brakes, which caused sparks, leading passengers to believe there was a fire on board.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have expressed their condolences to the families of the victims.

India is embarking on a $30 billion rail infrastructure modernization program to boost connectivity and boost economic growth. Although the number of train accidents has decreased, there are still problems with the country's aging railway system.

According to statistics, an average of 20,000 people died in train accidents in India each year from 2017 to 2021. In June 2023, India witnessed the most serious train accident in history when three trains collided in Odisha state, killing 288 people and injuring more than 900.

Hong Hanh (according to DW, India Today)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tin-don-ve-hoa-hoan-dan-den-vu-tai-nan-tau-hoa-thuong-tam-o-an-do-post331647.html