Morena (Madhya Pradesh): Four passengers lost their lives after jumping off a train amid panic over a rumoured fire and were subsequently hit by another train near Hethampur railway station in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district, officials said.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday evening when passengers travelling on the Khajuraho-Udaipur Intercity Express reportedly heard cries of “Fire! Fire!” spreading through the coaches, triggering panic among those on board.
According to officials, a passenger in a general coach pulled the emergency chain, bringing the train to a halt in the Hethampur-Dholpur section. As the train stopped, several passengers got down and moved towards the adjacent railway track.
At the same time, the Ferozepur-Seoni Patalkot Express was passing through the section from the opposite direction. The speeding train struck a group of passengers on the track, killing four people on the spot.
Railway and police personnel rushed to the scene after receiving information about the accident and launched rescue operations. The injured were provided medical assistance, while the bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem examination.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the panic was triggered by an unverified claim of a fire on the train. Authorities said the emergency chain was pulled soon after, and some passengers, ignoring railway safety protocols, stepped onto the neighbouring track, leading to the fatal accident.
The Railways have ordered a detailed inquiry to determine how the fire rumour originated, who pulled the emergency chain and the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of panic and misinformation during rail travel, as well as the importance of following safety instructions in emergency situations.
