In a shocking incident, on January 22, 2025, Wednesday, twelve passengers died and six others were seriously injured near Paranda railway station, Jalgaon district, Maharashtra.
The incident occurred when the passengers aboard Lucknow-Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Pushpak Express, believing there was a fire as smoke poured out of the wheel’s base, hurriedly alighted toward the adjacent tracks.
Around 4:19 PM, the Pushpak Express was on its way from Lucknow to Mumbai when some passengers on board identified smoke and sparks, which may have been caused by either a hot axle or a brake binding problem. Panic seized the passengers, who pulled the emergency chain and brought the train to an unscheduled halt between Maheji and Pardhade stations.
A few passengers, thinking that they were in danger, got out of the train and stepped into the adjacent tracks. Unfortunately, the Bengaluru Express happened to pass the signal at that very moment and struck passengers who had disembarked, resulting in immediate deaths and injuries.
Official Statements and Responses
The Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Swapnil Kumar Leela, describes, “The train had stopped and some passengers from a coach stepped out. Meanwhile, Karnataka Express coming from the opposite direction was passing on the next track.”
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed profound sorrow over the incident, describing it “extremely unfortunate and deeply distressing.” He announced a compensation of a sum of ₹5 lakh each to the family of the deceased, assuring that the state government would bear all medical expenses of the injured.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed his condolences and directed officials to ensure proper medical treatment is provided to the victims.
Actions by Railway Authorities
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed profound sorrow over the incident and has been in touch with senior officials to review the situation. He directed that every possible help and medical treatment be provided to the victims.
The railways have declared that the right compensation would be ₹1.5 lakh to relatives of the deceased, ₹50,000 to those severely injured, and ₹5,000 to those likely to receive minor injuries.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Eight ambulances were immediately sent to transport the injured to nearby hospitals. The district administration and the railway authorities should conduct an uporward investigation to fix the real reason for the smoke and to find out the detailed incident chronology that made people seek covert help.
Safety Measures and Public Awareness
The present incident serves as a wake-up call on the importance of passenger awareness and how to follow safety during emergencies.
The railways authorities should carry out full safety audits to tighten up their communication systems to avoid any misinformation that would panic passengers. Informing travelers on the ideal reaction in an emergency can play an important role in avoiding such incidents.
The Jalgaon train disaster reminds us how deadly panic-induced actions can be. One hopes investigations will track the right measures to ensure passenger safety and to avoid repeating such tragedies.
