In a shocking incident, as many as 15 migrant workers in a group of 20 were crushed to death after a cargo train ran over them. Those less unfortunate ones thought that there are no train services in this coronavirus lockdown as they slept on the tracks in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad this morning. While they were sleeping on the tracks, an unfortunate tragedy had happened, the railways confirmed in a statement.
It has been learnt that the migrants were walking from Jalna to Bhusaval which is 157 km apart. The rest of survivors, who are in shock, are being counselled by the police, senior police officer Mokshada Patil added in a statement according to NDTV. The fifth survivor has been admitted to a nearby local hospital with injuries.
“We are counselling the survivors before we speak to them for more details,” Ms Patil added.
The police added that the migrants, who were travelling to Madhya Pradesh assumed that trains were not running due to the nationwide lockdown. The migrants were exhausted from walking a long distance and they slept off on the tracks. Unfortunately, they were run over by the cargo train at early morning 5.15 am today at the district 360 km from Mumbai. It has been learnt that no children were reportedly present in the group.
The Railways Ministry came up with a tweet that the driver tried to stop the train after seeing people on the track but he couldn’t do so in time.
“During early hours today after seeing some labourers on track, loco pilot of goods train tried to stop the train but eventually hit them between Badnapur and Karmad stations in Parbhani-Manmad section. Injured have been taken to Aurangabad Civil Hospital. Inquiry has been ordered,” the Railway Ministry tweeted.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was extremely anguished by the loss of lives and also promised assistance to hundreds of thousands of workers stranded across India. PM Modi said that all possible assistance is being provided.
“Extremely anguished by the loss of lives due to the rail accident in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Have spoken to Railway Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and he is closely monitoring the situation. All possible assistance required is being provided,” PM Modi tweeted.