Migrant workers, returning to Madhya Pradesh, fell asleep on the train tracks in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district
16 migrant workers were run over by a goods train after they fell asleep on the train tracks during the early hours of May 8. The workers were walking home towards Madhya Pradesh after losing jobs amid nationwide COVID-19 lockdown. The accident occurred on the tracks between the Badnapur and Karmad railway stations when the exhausted workers, who had walked for at least 35 kilometres the previous day, decided to sleep on the tracks. The Ministry of Railways announced that the injured were taken to Aurangabad Civil Hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted about the incident saying, “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.” Railway Minister Piyush Goyal also expressed his grief and assured that relief work and inquiry had been ordered. Congress leader Rahul Gandi also tweeted expressing his shock over the news and condoled the families of the labourers who died.
According to the officials, due to nationwide shutdown of the transport system, these workers started their journey on foot at 7 pm from Jalna to go to Bhusawal, Maharashtra, covering a distance of 157 kilometres and from there to their native places in Madhya Pradesh, which is about 850 kilometres away. After walking for about 35 kilometres, they stopped to rest on the train tracks in Aurangabad district. At 5.22 am, an empty petroleum carrier train ran over these labourers. The driver tried to stop the train but couldn’t do so in time.
