Fire rumour by tea-seller led to Jalgaon train tragedy: Deputy CM Ajit Pawar
The Hindu
Tragic train accident in Maharashtra caused by false fire alarm, resulting in 13 deaths and 15 injuries.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday (January 23, 2025) said the Jalgaon train accident was the result of a "sheer rumour" about fire by a tea-seller inside the Pushpak Express, which led to panic and some passengers jumping off.
Jalgaon Pushpak Express accident LIVE updates
Some passengers of the Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express, who got off the train after an alarm chain-pulling incident, were run over by the Karnataka Express heading from Bengaluru to Delhi on the adjacent tracks in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district on Wednesday (January 22, 2025) evening.
Thirteen persons were killed and 15 injured in the accident, as per officials.
Speaking to the reporters in Pune, Mr. Pawar said, "A tea-seller from the pantry shouted about a fire having broken out in a coach."
Two passengers from Shravasti in Uttar Pradesh heard it and conveyed the false alarm to others, leading to confusion and panic in their general coach and the adjoining one, he said.
“Some of the scared passengers jumped off the train from both the sides to save themselves,” Mr. Pawar said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced that from the next financial year, a market system for organic products will be implemented in Karnataka’s Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC). He was speaking at the inauguration of the International Trade Fair - Organics and Millets 2025.