Five-member committee formed to probe Jalgaon train incident; 7 from Nepal among victims

The inquiry committee comprises 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) of Central Railway. Officials said that PCSO will serve as a convenor of the committee.

“Prima facie, the reason behind the accident is chain pulling. Due to sudden application of the brake, there was a smoke in the car. But it was not a fire. The committee will check if there was any rumour of fire or the passengers got off the train due to some other reason. The committee will call the passengers for questioning,” said a senior official of the Ministry of Railways.

Adding that the whole incident happened within few seconds, the official said, “The track is 1.7 metres wide and the passengers got off on the wrong side of the train. There was a curvature of almost two degrees, which obstructed the visibility of both the loco pilot of Karnataka Express and also the passengers who were crossing the track.”

The track is 1.7 metres wide and the passengers got off on the wrong side of the train.

Meanwhile, the Central Railway has identified 10 victims. “The families of one deceased is yet to reach the spot, while another body is yet to be identified,” said Dr Swapnil Nila, chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the Central Railway.

The families of the identified victims were given ex gratia of Rs 50,000 each, out of the Rs 1.5 lakh that was announced, while the balance amount will be paid on a later date. Those with grievous injuries were also given Rs 50,000 each, while those with simple injuries were given Rs 5,000 each. Arrangements were also made to transport the bodies of victims from Nepal, in coordination with local authorities, the CPRO said.

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The incident took place on Wednesday when some passengers of the Mumbai-bound Pushpak Express got off on tracks after someone allegedly pulled the chain and were run over by the Karnataka Express.

Seven victims are from Nepal, of which four were identified as Kamala Navin Bhandari (43) (who lived in Colaba in Mumbai), Javakala Bhate (60) (who resided at Bhiwandi in Thane), Lachchiram Khataru Pasi (40) and Imtiyaz Ali (11).

Recounting the horror, Shaukat Ali, a worker from Nepal who was travelling with Lachchiram, said, “A fire rumour spread on the train. We saw smoke inside the bogie. When the train slowed, we hastily stepped down. Another train moving in the opposite direction approached before we could comprehend what was happening… We found a small space between the two trains and laid down there, tightly holding each other, hence we survived.”

The accident occurred between Maheji and Pardhade stations near Pachora town, about 400 kilometres from Mumbai. Of the 15 injured passengers, 10 were undergoing treatment — nine at Pachora civil hospital and one at a medical facility in Jalgaon city. Others who suffered minor injuries were discharged, an official said.

Dilip Kumar, executive director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board, denied that any spark or fire inside the coach caused passengers to pull the alarm chain.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said in Pune on Thursday that the accident was due to a “sheer rumour” about a fire by a tea seller on the Pushpak Express, which led to panic.