Jalgaon accident: What caused Pushpak Express tragedy? Here's what we know so far

Disaster on tracks

At least 11 passengers were runover by Karnataka Express on the adjacent tracks after they deboarded Pushpak Express in Jalgaon on Wednesday evening, allegedly after rumours of a fire spread in the train.

Here's what we know so far about the tragedy:

According to officials, the incident took place around 4 pm near Pardhade railway station in Pachura taluka of Jalgaon district.

"A few passengers pulled alarm chain on Pushpak Express and deboarded the train. Bengaluru-New Delhi Karnataka Express was coming from the other side," said Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information & Publicity Department of Railway Board.

"Several people had boarded the train from Bhusawal and one of them pulled the alarm chain. After that they deboarded the train and some of them stood on the tracks when a train coming from the other side hit them," the officer added.

However, according to reports in media, passengers pulled the chain of the train after rumours of fire spread on board. Many aboard the train, which was traveling from Lucknow to Mumbai, allegedly noticed sparks while the train was braking. This created chaos and many passengers were seen jumping of the train in panic, reports said.

News agency IANS quoted an official without naming him: "A false fire alarm in the Pushpak Express at Jalgaon's Paranda railway station triggered panic, causing passengers to jump off."

"Our preliminary information is that there were sparks inside one of the coaches of Pushpak Express due to either 'hot axle' or 'brake-binding' (jamming), and some passengers panicked. They pulled the chain, and some of them jumped down. At the same time, Karnataka Express was passing," a senior railway official was quoted by PTI.

Central Railway CPRO Swapnil Nila said, "The Pushpak Express coming from Lucknow towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus had an alarm chain pulling incident between Mahaji and Paradhare. After the alarm chain pulling, the train stopped, and some passengers from one of the coaches got off. At that moment, the Karnataka Express, traveling from Bangalore to Delhi, was passing on the adjacent track."