A major train accident took place in Jharkhand’s Jamtara on Wednesday evening when a train ran over passengers at the Kalajharia railway station. Several people are feared dead, but the exact number of deaths has not yet been confirmed, as reported by news agency ANI. The deputy commissioner of Jamtara said that medical teams and ambulances have been rushed to the scene. “Pained by the mishap in Jamtara, Jharkhand. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office issued a statement.
“The news of sudden death of many people in a train accident in Jamtara district of Jharkhand is extremely saddening. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” President Droupadi Murmu tweeted.
Jamtara MLA Irfan Ansari left for the accident site after he was informed about the mishap. “I have given the directions to identify those responsible for it. We will also raise the issue in the Assembly… The deceased have not been identified yet…” the MLA said.
According to a report, the passengers jumped onto the track after ‘there was a fire’ and another train crushed them to death. However, Eastern Railway CPRO denied the report of a fire and said that two persons who were walking on the track were run over by the train. These two were walking on the track without being passengers. Mitra said a three-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident.
Jamtara SDM Anant Kumar said that those who were run over were passengers who got off one train and were crushed by another local train. “We are trying to set up a helpline so that the families can get information,” Anant Kumar said.
Champai Soren, the chief minister of Jharkhand, expressed his sorrow over the incident. “Saddened by the sad news of the train accident near Kaljharia station of Jamtara. May God grant peace to the departed souls and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this difficult time of grief. The administration team is engaged in relief and rescue work on the spot. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured in the accident,” he posted on X.
How the Jamtara train accident took place: Several accounts of fire rumors and stones on the track.
Jamtara Zila Parishad member Surendra Mandal who claimed to be an eyewitness of the train accident said stones were laid along the rack during the day, When the express train came on the track, there was a fire probably because of the stones. “It seems the emergency chain was pulled and passengers started getting down. A local train was coming on that track,” Surendra Mandal said.
It is not yet known whether there was a fire or only a rumor of a fire that led the passengers to exit the express train.
What’s the official version of the Jamtara train accident?
The railways said: “While train number 12254 Anga Express passing between Vidyasagar Kasitar at km 269/19 stopped due to Alarm Chain Pulling (ACP) at 1900 hrs (7pm) at Asansol Division of Eastern Railway. At 19.07 (7.07pm) two persons who were walking on track ran over in an up line by MEMU train at least two kms away where the train stopped”.
