Sixteen migrant labourers, who were working for a steel company returning to their home State Madhya Pradesh on foot, were killed on Friday, May 8, 2020 when a goods train ran over them between Jalna and Aurangabad districts of Maharashtra, nearly 260 km from Pune. One was seriously injured, while three escaped.
The Indian government has extended the lockdown until May 17. Most public transportation has already been cancelled due to the lockdown. Tens of thousands of labourers have been walking home from India’s key cities after losing their jobs in recent weeks because of a lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic – Covid-19 in India.
A group of young workers had walking started from Jalna to go to Bhusawal (both in Maharashtra) – a distance of 157 kilometres – and had planned to go to their native places Umariya and Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh, which is about 850 kilometres away.
Initially walked on road and later onto the track towards Aurangabad. After walking for about 36 kilometres, these workers started feeling tired and sat on the track between Karnad and Badnapur railway stations for taking some rest. They gradually went into deep sleep.
A train in western India has ran over these migrant workers sleeping on the tracks, killing at least 16 among a group of people returning to their home.
In an unfortunate incident that occurred in the wee hours of 8th May, 2020 morning i.e., around 05.22 hrs, a group of persons who were sleeping on railway tracks, were hit by a goods train proceeding towards Manmad.
The incident occurred between Badnapur and Karmad stations on the Parbhani – Manmad section of Nanded Division, of the South Central Railway (SCR) in Maharashtra.
Out of the group comprising of about 19 persons, 14 succumbed to death on the spot and 02 persons have succumbed to the injuries subsequently. One person with minor injuries is being treated at the Aurangabad Civil Hospital.
The incident occurred, even as the Loco Pilot of the Goods Train honked the horn as soon as he noticed the group of people infringing the rail tracks and also made all possible efforts to stop the train.
The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of the Karmad police station in Aurangabad.
From initial reports, it appears that they started walking on Thursday, May 7, 2020 evening from Jalna and after walking 40 km and exhausted by their journey, decided to rest on the track, where they fell asleep. They were planning to walk to Bhusaval.
Labourers worked at Steel Company
The labourers worked for a steel company and were walking to their village in the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh from Maharashtra. They had been walking all night, they were exhausted and fell asleep on the tracks. Because of the lockdown, they were probably not expecting any trains to be moving.
All workers were aged between 20 and 30 and hailed from Umaria and Shahdol districts. They were working at a steel firm in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) zone in Jalna district.
Workers were working at a steel firm in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) zone in Jalna district.
Lockdown and Train network in India
Under the lockdown, all public transport has been suspended so migrant workers heading home often have to walk long distances to reach their destinations. In India, government has extended the lockdown until May 17. Over the past week, some state governments facing public pressure organised trains and buses to bring back migrant workers. Many are trudging great distances in the blistering heat through fields and forests to get home.
India’s railway network is one of the largest in the world and carries about 23 million passengers a day. Accidents are common, with most blamed on poor maintenance and human error.
Rs. 5 Lakh support to families
The Madhya Pradesh government has announced Rs. 5 lakh as ex-gratia for the deceased labourers’ families.
Prime Minister ‘anguished’
The Indian Prime Minister said, “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”.
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