On January 22, 2025, a tragic event unfolded in Maharashtra state, India, when 13 passengers fleeing a Mumbai-bound train due to a false fire alarm were killed by a train on a neighboring track. Ten other passengers sustained injuries during this incident.

The unfortunate incident unfolded near Pardhade railway station, approximately 255 miles northeast of Mumbai. Passengers aboard the Pushpak Express train panicked and decided to evacuate after a rumor about a fire, initiated by two passengers who misunderstood a tea seller’s shout, spread through the train. Some passengers yanked the emergency chain, halting the train suddenly, while others decided to exit the still-moving train. Those who fled the train were tragically hit by the Karnataka Express moving on a nearby track.

According to railway officials, sparks inside one of the train’s coaches, possibly due to a “hot axle” or “brake-binding,” might have triggered the panic. Seven of the deceased passengers were Nepalese, and four hailed from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The duo who allegedly initiated the rumor were among the injured and were treated at the government’s expense, as directed by state authorities.

The tragedy took place around 5 p.m. local time, during the busiest travel hours, when both trains were operating at maximum capacity. The Pushpak Express, carrying nearly 1,200 passengers, was running at its usual speed of 55 mph when the emergency chain was pulled. Conversely, the Karnataka Express, responsible for the fatalities, was moving at approximately 60 mph at the time of the collision.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of lives near Pachora in Jalgaon district in his X post. Eight emergency vehicles were dispatched promptly to the accident scene, and surrounding hospitals were put on high alert. The state government has pledged to cover the medical costs of all injured passengers, including long-term rehabilitation expenses.

In response to this incident, the railway administration mandated an immediate safety review of all emergency protocols and passenger communication systems on this route. The review includes checks on emergency chains, door lock systems, and onboard fire detection equipment in all coaches running on the Mumbai-bound route. The review team consists of high-ranking railway safety officials and independent technical experts.

India’s railway network, the world’s largest single-management system, spans over 40,000 miles and transports 23 million passengers daily. The system, which employs 1.3 million people and operates 13,000 passenger trains daily, recently initiated a 30 billion dollar modernization program.

In recent years, the railway network has witnessed several severe accidents. A major accident involving three trains in the state of Odisha in June 2023 resulted in almost 300 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. This incident triggered a comprehensive review of the railway’s signaling systems and led to the introduction of new safety technologies on key routes.

The Pushpak Express, involved in the recent tragedy, operates on one of India’s busiest rail corridors, linking major urban hubs through Maharashtra. The section where the accident occurred accommodates over 160 trains daily, including passenger and freight services. Railway authorities have since instituted immediate safety measures, such as enhanced communication between train staff and passengers and compulsory safety briefings before every trip.