Officials at the site after the passengers of Pushpak Express were hit by Karnataka Express at Pachora in Jalgaon on January 22, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI
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 braking, they said.
Also read: Jalgaon Pushpak Express accident LIVE updates
“Drivers of both the trains followed the protocol and tried their best to avoid the accident,” the railway officials 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. If brake were not applied a lot of people would have died. After applying the brake, a full-speed train requires a minimum 650 meter space to stop.”
Trains run at more than 100 kmph in this section which falls under the trunk route of the Railways, according to officials.
At least 13 people lost their lives and 10 were injured, which took place between Maheji and Pardhade stations near Pachora town in North Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district, when Pushpak Express halted after someone pulled the chain around 4.45 pm, Central Railway officials said.
The Ex-gratia amount was distributed to 9 injured passengers of 12533 Pushpak Express at Vrindavan Hospital and Vighnaharta Pachora on Thursday (January 23, 2025).
Hasan Ali, Vijay Kumar, Uttam Harjan, Dharma Sawant, Abu Mohammad received grievous injury of ₹50,000 each, while Moharam, Hakeem Ansari, Deepak Thapa, and Hujala Sawant received simple injury of ₹5000 each.
The total ex-gratia amount distributed was ₹2,70,000.
(With PTI inputs)
Published – January 23, 2025 09:17 am IST
