Train Accident in Maharashtra: 14 laborers killed, Railway Minister orders inquiry

In Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, 14 migrant laborers died after being hit by a goods train on Friday. An official of the Karmad police station told PTI that the workers going from Jalna to Bhusaval were returning to Madhya Pradesh. They said that they were walking on the side of the railway tracks and slept on the tracks due to fatigue. The officer said that the train crushed them at five in the morning at five.

All the laborers were from Madhya Pradesh and worked in a steel company in Jalna. He was going from Jalna to Aurangabad in the hope of getting a train from Aurangabad. On the incident, the Railway Ministry said, "On seeing some laborers on the track this morning, the loco pilot of the goods train tried to stop the train but they were hit between Badanpur and Karmad stations of Parbhani-Manmad section. The injured have been taken to Aurangabad Civis Hospital. Investigations have been ordered.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the incident. He wrote, 'I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and property in the rail accident in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. I have spoken to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and he is closely monitoring the situation. All necessary support is being provided. On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has expressed grief over the incident and announced compensation to the families of the deceased.

Police officer Santosh Khetamlas said, "The laborers working in a steel factory in Jalna had left for their home state on foot last night. They came up to Karamad and slept tiredly on the tracks. He said that 14 casualties were killed and two others were injured in the accident. The three laborers who were walking with the group survived as they were sleeping at some distance from the railway tracks.

Public Relations Officer of South Central Railway says that the accident occurred near Karmad in Aurangabad. An empty box of goods train climbed over some people. Migrant laborers stranded in various parts of the country are on their way home on foot due to the ongoing lockdown across the country due to Corona virus. In such a situation, they are resorting to railway tracks to stay at night.

Recently, the Central Government has given permission to send workers back to their state. After which state governments are arranging special trains, buses and sending them back to their home state. In the worry of employment, these workers are walking towards their villages on foot. Even before this, migrant laborers have lost their lives in road accidents.