Panic Over Fire Rumor Leads to Deadly Train Crash, 12 Dead in India

What Happened?
Passengers aboard the Pushpak Express, traveling toward Mumbai, became alarmed after rumors spread that a fire had broken out on the train. In a panic, some passengers pulled the emergency chain, forcing the train to stop. Others, fearing for their safety, jumped off the train onto the tracks. Tragically, they were struck by another train, the Karnataka Express, which was traveling on an adjacent track.

Preliminary reports suggest that sparks inside one of the Pushpak Express coaches, possibly due to a “hot axle” or “brake-binding,” triggered the panic. A senior railway official explained that the sparks led to confusion, causing passengers to flee.

Response and Reactions
Indian Interior Minister Amit Shah expressed his condolences to the victims' families, while Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, announced compensation for the victims' families and free treatment for the injured.

India's vast railway network, one of the largest in the world, is notorious for frequent accidents, many of which stem from outdated infrastructure dating back to British colonial times. In 2023, nearly 300 people were killed in a separate train disaster.

Despite billions of dollars being invested in modernizing the railway system, experts believe that the country’s aging infrastructure still has a long way to go before it can meet safety standards expected in the 21st century.