In a tragic incident, 15 migrant workers in a group of 20 were killed after a cargo train ran over them while they were sleeping on the tracks in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad in the early hours of May 8th, 2020.
The migrant workers were walking from Jalna to Bhusaval, 157 km apart. The survivors are undergoing treatment. There were reportedly no children in the group.
The police said assuming that trains were not running due to the coronavirus induced lockdown, the migrants slept off on the tracks. They were headed to Madhya Pradesh.
The train run over the migrants at 5.15 am at the district 360 km from Mumbai.
The Railway Ministry tweeted the driver tried to stop the train.
“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 Injureds have been taken to Aurangabad Civil Hospital. Inquiry has been ordered,” the Ministry tweeted.
‘Anguished’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted “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,” Modi tweeted.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan condoled the deaths of the migrant workers.
The Chief Minister mentioned that he spoke with Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, seeking help for the families of the workers who died in the accident.
Chouhan also announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for their families.
The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister is in touch with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for arrangements related to the treatment of the injured migrants.
Though several states have been running ‘Shramik’ special trains for migrants who need to return home for emergency reasons, many have started walking back on their own.
Photo: Twitter
