On January 22, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded when a rumored fire on a Mumbai-bound train led to a panicked evacuation. Thirteen passengers lost their lives, and another ten were injured when they were hit by a separate train on a neighboring track in Maharashtra, India.
The unfortunate event occurred near Pardhade railroad station, around 255 miles northwest of Mumbai. Passengers on the Pushpak Express were thrown into panic after a fire rumor, sparked by the shouts of a tea seller, circulated through the train. Some passengers activated the emergency brakes, abruptly halting the train, while others decided to leap from the moving train. Those who had disembarked were subsequently hit by the Karnataka Express, traveling on an adjacent track.
According to railway authorities, sparks seen within one of the coaches due to a possible “hot axle” or “brake-binding” may have fueled the panic. Seven individuals from Nepal and four from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh were among the deceased. The two passengers who allegedly instigated the fire rumor were also injured and are currently receiving medical care at the state’s expense.
The incident happened during the evening rush hour, around 5 p.m. local time. Both the Pushpak Express and the Karnataka Express were at full capacity. The Pushpak Express, carrying about 1,200 passengers, cruised at its regular speed of 55 mph when the emergency brakes were activated. The Karnataka Express, which hit the disembarked passengers, was traveling at around 60 mph when the collision occurred.
Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, expressed his deep sadness over the loss of lives near Pachora in Jalgaon district, approximately 400km from Mumbai. Eight ambulances were dispatched to the accident site, and local hospitals were alerted. The state government pledged 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 a prompt review of all the route’s emergency protocols and passenger communication systems. The safety inspection will include emergency chains, door locks, and onboard fire detection systems in all coaches on the Mumbai-bound route. A team of high-ranking railway safety officials and independent technical experts will conduct the investigation.
India’s railway network, the largest under single management globally, transports around 23 million passengers daily across 40,000 miles of track. Recently, a modernization program worth $30 billion was initiated. The network employs 1.3 million people and operates 13,000 passenger trains daily.
The railway system has seen several significant accidents over the past years. In June 2023, a major collision involving three trains in Odisha resulted in nearly 300 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. This incident led to a thorough review of the railway’s signaling systems and the introduction of new safety technologies across its major routes.
The Pushpak Express operates on one of India’s busiest railway corridors, linking significant cities through Maharashtra. The section of track where the incident occurred manages over 160 trains daily, including passenger and freight services. Following the incident, railway authorities have introduced immediate safety measures such as improved communication systems between train staff and passengers and mandatory pre-journey safety briefings.