Jalgaon Pushpak Express accident updates: 11 victims identified; rumour about fire behind tragedy, says Ajit Pawar

A team of five senior railway officials has initiated an inquiry into the tragedy, the Railway Board said.

The team includes principal chief safety officer (PCSO), principal chief security commissioner (PCSC), principal chief electrical engineer (PCEE), principal chief mechanical engineer (PCME) and principal chief commercial manager (PCCM) - all from the Central Railway Zone, it said.

- PTI

As many as seven of the 13 who died in the accident were from Nepal, an official said.

Yuvaraj Patil, district information officer, said 11 of the 13 victims have been identified and seven of them belonged to Nepal. Earlier, the authorities had put the number of victims from the neighbouring country at four.

- PTI

The Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police have jointly initiated an inquiry into the Jalgaon train tragedy.

“Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) initiated an inquiry after the tragedy on Wednesday to find out what caused passengers to pull the alarm chain and alight the Pushpak Express,” Swapnil Dhanraj Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Central Railway, said. 

- PTI

Recounting the horror, Shaukat Ali, a worker from Nepal who was travelling with Lachchiram, said, “A fire rumour was spread in the train. We saw smoke inside the bogie. When the train slowed, we hastily stepped down and the train got empty.” 

“We found a small space between the two trains and we laid down there by tightly holding on to each other, hence survived,” Ali said. - PTI

Lachchiram Khataru Pasi was among the four persons hailing from Nepal who got killed in the Jalgaon train tragedy.

Lachchiram Pasi’s nephew Ramrang Pasi, who lives in Jalgaon, said his uncle hailed from Narainapur in Nepal’s Banke district and was in his 50s.

“Some portions of his hands and legs are missing,” Ramrang said.

He said his uncle was travelling on the Pushpak Express to Thane from Nepal via Lucknow with five other persons, who all are daily wagers and survived the tragedy, he said.

He said they identified his uncle through his face and clothes, but the sight (of the mutilated remains) was so scary that their mind went blank for a moment.

The body has not yet been handed over to them, Ramrang said, adding they want to take his uncle’s mortal remains to his native place in Nepal. - PTI

11 deceased identified and in process to hand over the bodies to their families. Police trying to identify the remaining two bodies. - Snehal

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday 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.

Pushpak Express train accident: Fire rumour by tea-seller led to Jalgaon train tragedy says, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Tragic train accident in Jalgaon, Maharashtra caused by false fire alarm, resulting in 13 deaths and 15 injuries.

“All the legal procedures and identification of the dead bodies would be completed till today’s noon and then it would be handed over to their families,” said Dean of the Civil Hospital Jalgaon after the train incident claimed 13 lives.

Dr. Girish Thakur said that the hospital administration has completed the post mortem of 6 dead bodies while 6 bodies have been shifted to Anatomy Department after that bodies will go through the process of ‘embalming’.

Embalming is the process of preserving a dead body using chemicals to delay decomposition.

Dr. Thakur, Dean of Civil Hospital Jalgaon, said, “We have received 13 bodies since yesterday at our PM room. We have completed the post mortem of 6 dead bodies while 6 bodies have been shifted to Anatomy Department. We will perform a procedure of ‘embalming’. After that the dead bodies will be taken to the PM room and then it will be handed over to the police. After completion of the legal procedure and identification, we will hand over the dead bodies to police. After this process, the dead bodies will be handed over to their families. All the process will get completed till today’s noon.”

- ANI

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi expressed deep condolences on the demise of the people in the Jalgaon train tragedy.

Mr. Gandhi also prayed for the speedy recovery of those who have been injured in the mishap. He requested the government and administration to ensure best possible treatment to the injured.

Taking to X, he wrote, “The news of several people being killed and many being injured in the horrific train accident in Jalgaon, Maharashtra is extremely sad and distressing. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and hope that the injured recover soon. The government and administration should ensure that the injured get the best possible treatment. I request Congress workers to help the administration in relief and rescue operations.”

The Congress MP further demanded a probe into how the rumours of fire spread on the train which led to the incident.

“At least four out of the 13 persons killed in the Jalgaon train accident have been identified as hailing from Nepal,” authorities said on Thursday (January 23, 2025).

“A minor boy and two women were among the four Nepalese victims,” they said.

At least 13 persons were killed and 15 injured after some passengers of the Mumbai-bound Pushpak Express, who got off the train after an alarm chain-pulling incident, were run over by the Karnataka Express on the adjacent tracks in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district on Wednesday (January 22, 2025) evening.

“Of the 13, we have identified eight bodies so far, including two from their Aadhaar cards,” told Special Inspector General of Police Dattatraya Karale.

- PTI

After the Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express was stopped due to an alarm chain pulling, the train driver activated the flasher light and applied brakes as per rules, according to officials. The curvature of the train, nearly two degrees, obstructed visibility and reduced the distance for breaking, they said.

Speaking to The Hindu, Central PRO Swapnil Nila said, “The driver of Karnataka Express noticed the flashlight and applied brakes. There was a curvature of almost two degrees which obstructed the visibility and even people could not see the train coming. Pilots tried their best to avoid the incident.”

Read the full story below

Jalgaon Pushpak Express accident: Track curvature affected visibility and braking distance, say officials

Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express incident: Train driver's quick action prevents major disaster, 12 dead, 10 injured, ex-gratia distributed.

“The tragic loss of lives in a very unfortunate incident near Pachora in Jalgaon district is deeply distressing. I pay my heartfelt tributes to them,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in a video message from Davos in Switzerland. 

“Emergency equipment like glass cutters, floodlights etc. have been kept ready. We are monitoring the entire situation and all necessary assistance is being provided immediately. I am in touch with the district administration,” he added. 

He promised that the State government would provide for medical attention for the injured.