Jalgaon Pushpak Express accident.
An unfortunate accident occurred near Paranda Railway Station in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India on January 22, 2025. The Pushpak Express travelling from Lucknow to Mumbai had to come to an emergency halt as passengers pulled the precautionary chain fearing a fire in the coach. This incident led to a series of tragic events resulting in the death of 12 passengers and injuries to many others.
https://newshedline643.blogspot.com/2025/01/blog-post_22.html
Cluster of events
Emergency stop and stampede: Passengers in the Pushpak Express noticed sparks while applying brakes. Fearing a fire, they overreacted and pulled the emergency chain, causing the train to stop. To escape, some passengers jumped off the train and moved to adjacent tracks.
Visibility and slow speed: A bend in the track near Pachora Railway Station between Maheji and Pardhane stations significantly affected visibility and slow speed. The Karnataka Express coming from the other side was moving ahead on the same track. The bend blocked visibility to drivers, making it difficult to see passengers on the track, so as to avoid an accident. Impact: The Karnataka Express which was running at high speed could not stop for some distance due to poor visibility and slow speed, as there were fluctuations on the track. The train hit the passengers, who jumped off the Pushpak Express, leading to unfortunate deaths.
Official announcements and reactions
A senior Central Railway official confirmed that the driver of the Pushpak Express had switched on the flasher lights when the train stopped as per tradition. The driver of the Karnataka Express saw the lights and applied brakes, but could not avoid the collision due to fluctuations on the track.
Government response: State Chief Minister Narendra Modi announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. Local experts are providing assistance to the concerned people.
State government: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the incident and sought proper treatment of the injured. He also announced an assistance of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased.
Investigation and other details
Effect of track derailment: Railway officials found that visibility would have been obstructed before the track took a turn, leading to catastrophic results. Due to a two-degree bend near the accident site, both the train driver and the passengers were unable to see each other in time, averting the accident.
Chain pulling incident: According to officials, the chain pulling incident took place due to a rumour of fire in the Pushpak Express at 5 pm. This led to passengers coming out of the train, but they were not aware of the operation of the Karnataka Express.
Identification of the dead: As of January 23, 2025, seven dead have been identified, including four from Nepal. Four of the 10 injured passengers are in critical condition.
Track planning and emergency conferences play an important role in railway route safety in the Jalgaon Pushpak Express accident. The shape of the track near the accident site played a significant role in reducing visibility and slowing down the distance, leading to catastrophic results. Although the incident is still under investigation, the focus is on providing support to the victims and their families and developing safety measures to prevent such accidents in the future.