On January 22, 2025, in Maharashtra state, India, an unfortunate incident led to the death of 13 passengers while 10 others sustained injuries. The tragedy occurred when passengers of a Mumbai-bound train ran off in panic due to rumors of a fire, only to be hit by another train on a neighboring track.
The incident occurred near Pardhade railroad station, about 255 miles from Mumbai. The passengers of the Pushpak Express fell into panic when two people spread a rumor of a fire, instigated by a tea seller’s shout. In the ensuing chaos, some passengers used the emergency chain to halt the train abruptly, while others chose to jump from the moving train. Those who exited were then hit by the Karnataka Express, which was moving on the adjacent track.
According to railway officials, the panic may have been fueled by sparks inside one of the coaches, possibly due to a “hot axle” or “brake-binding.” Among the deceased, seven were Nepalese, and four hailed from Uttar Pradesh, a northern state of India. The two passengers who allegedly initiated the rumor were also among the injured and were given medical treatment at the state’s expense.
The incident took place during the peak evening travel hours, around 5 p.m. local time, when both trains were at full capacity. The Pushpak Express, carrying an estimated 1,200 passengers, was moving at its usual speed of 55 mph when the emergency chain was pulled. The Karnataka Express, which hit the passengers who had disembarked, was traveling at approximately 60 mph at the time of the collision.
Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, expressed his deep sadness over the tragic loss of lives. Eight ambulances were sent to the scene, and local hospitals were put on alert. The state government has vowed to cover all medical expenses for the injured passengers, including long-term rehabilitation costs.
In response to the incident, the railway administration has called for an immediate review of all emergency protocols and passenger communication systems along the route. This includes examining emergency chains, door lock mechanisms, and onboard fire detection systems in all coaches that ply the Mumbai-bound route. The investigation team is composed of senior railway safety officials and independent technical experts.
India’s railway network, the world’s largest under a single management, carries about 23 million passengers daily over approximately 40,000 miles of track, employing 1.3 million people and running 13,000 passenger trains daily. Recently, a $30 billion modernization program was launched to improve the system.
There have been several severe accidents in the railway system in recent years. One such accident was a massive three-train collision in the state of Odisha in June 2023, which resulted in nearly 300 deaths and over 1,000 injured people. This catastrophe led to an extensive review of the railway’s signaling systems and the installation of new safety technologies on major routes.
The Pushpak Express operates on one of India’s busiest rail corridors, linking major urban centers through Maharashtra. The section where the accident occurred handles over 160 trains daily, including both passenger and freight services. Following the incident, railway authorities have implemented immediate safety measures, such as improved communication systems between train staff and passengers and mandatory safety briefings before each trip.