Kathmandu, January 23
The death toll from a train accident in Maharashtra, India, has reached 13, with four Nepali citizens among the deceased, according to Indian media reports.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when rumors of a fire on the Pushpak Express led to panic among passengers. In the ensuing chaos, some passengers were struck by the Karnataka Express coming from the opposite direction. Of the 13 fatalities, seven have been identified so far.
Among the deceased Nepalis are Lachhiram Pasi, Nandaram Bishwakarma, Kamala Bhandari, and Himu Bishwakarma, as reported by Indian media.
Authorities stated that the panic started after a passenger pulled the emergency chain on the Pushpak Express due to the false fire alarm. When the train stopped, passengers disembarked and ran towards the adjacent tracks, where they were hit by the oncoming Karnataka Express.
The accident occurred near a curve, which likely obstructed the passengers’ view of the approaching train, resulting in the significant loss of life.
