Morena: A tragic incident in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district on Sunday left four people dead after they leapt from an Udaipur-bound express train in panic over a false fire alarm and were struck by another train on the adjacent tracks, officials said.
The incident took place at about 4:15 pm between Hetampur and Dholpur in the Jhansi railway division, officials said.
A senior official said the four passengers jumped from a general coach in panic after a rumour of a fire spread following the pulling of the emergency chain.
“Four passengers of the Khajuraho-Udaipur Intercity Express (19665) jumped off a general coach, second from the engine, after panic spread over reports of a fire,” North Central Railway’s Jhansi division Public Relations Officer Manoj Singh told PTI.
“At the same time, the Patalkot Express (20424) from Firozpur in Punjab to Seoni in MP was passing on the adjacent tracks, he added.
Those who had got off the second coach behind the engine failed to see the approaching train and were run over, causing their deaths.
The episode sparked fear among other travellers, and railway and police teams were alerted immediately, Singh said.
Railway officials, personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), and the Government Railway Police (GRP) reached the scene, the PRO said.
Singh said the precise reasons for the incident are under investigation.
Morena district collector Lokesh Kumar Jangid, who rushed to the site, said the dead included three women and a boy.
Victims From Agra, Bikaner
Two of the women and the child were from Agra, while the other woman was from Bikaner, he added.
The collector said sparks and smoke were reportedly seen in a coach close to the locomotive, which fueled the fire rumours and led some passengers to pull the emergency chain.
He said several people leapt from the coach in panic and stood on an adjacent track, unaware that the Patalkot Express was speeding past from the Delhi side.
Sarai Chhola police station house officer KK Singh said rescue and relief work began as soon as authorities were informed.
He said the dead were identified as Afreen, 35, Ashad, 4, Shakuntala, 60, and Veerma Devi, 58.
