Amid distressing stories coming from all over about the plight of migrants stranded due coronavirus lockdown, 15 migrants were killed this morning after a cargo train ran over them in Maharashtra's Aurangabad. They were sleeping on rail tracks when the accident happened, officials said, adding that driver tried to stop the train.
They were a part of group of 20 migrants who were walking from Jalna in Maharashtra to Bhusaval in Madhya Pradesh, 157 km apart.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "extremely anguished" at the death of migrant workers. "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," the Prime Minister tweeted.
Here are the updates on train accident in Maharashtra's Aurangabad
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren condoled the death of 15 migrant workers in a train accident in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district, reported PTI
Taking to Twitter, the chief minister said that the poor are the worst sufferers of the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.
"The accident has left me in pain. May the departed souls rest in peace. The poor are the worst hit by the coronavirus lockdown. They are compelled to withstand it (hardships) every day," he tweeted.
Migrant workers, sleeping on rail tracks while on their way home on foot, were crushed to death by a goods train in Aurangabad today morning.
The bodies of migrants, who were run over by a train in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district, will be taken to their home villages in the evening. The bodies will be brought to Jabalpur by train that will leave Aurangabad at 7 pm today.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray spoke with Railway Minister Piyush Goyal to make the necessary arrangements.
Bollywood actor Ajay Devgan also joined the celebrities and politicians in condoling the death of 15 migrants. "Yesterday, I was disturbed to read about the Vizag gas tragedy. And, now this horrific news of a goods train running over 15-odd migrants on foot to Madhya Pradesh. RIP, all those lives lostFolded hands #VizagGasLeak #Aurangabad," he tweeted.
Yesterday, I was disturbed to read about the Vizag gas tragedy. And, now this horrific news of a goods train running over 15-odd migrants on foot to Madhya Pradesh. RIP, all those lives lost🙏#VizagGasLeak #Aurangabad
- Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) May 8, 2020
The migrants who died today in Maharashtra's Aurangabad were on their way to their homes in Madhya Pradesh; they were killed while they were asleep on tracks. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today appealed - in a series of tweets - to laborers across the country and urged them to avoid stepping out. He also said that Rs 5 lakh compensation would be given to families of those killed and Rs 1 lakh compensation would be given to those injured. More than 8 lakh migrants have been brought back to the state, he wrote.
औरंगाबाद में हुए रेल हादसे से हृदय पर ऐसा कुठाराघात हुआ है की मैं उसे शब्दों में व्यक्त नहीं कर सकता! संवेदना से मन भर जाता है...
- Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) May 8, 2020
मैंने रेल मंत्री श्री @PiyushGoyal जी से बात की है और उनसे त्वरित जाँच और उचित व्यवस्था की माँग की है।
ये पूरी प्रक्रिया लगातार जारी है। इस में थोड़ी देर लग सकती है लेकिन हम सब को वापिस लाएँगे। धैर्य रखे और मुझ पर भरोसा रखे। मैं हमेशा आप के साथ था, हूँ, और रहूँगा।
- Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) May 8, 2020
आप जहां हो वहीं रहे, कृपया पैदल चल कर न आए और हम से जल्द से जल्द सम्पर्क करे। https://t.co/D5T3IB9drh
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announces Rs 5 lakh compensation each to families of migrants who died after being run over by goods train in Aurangabad
Everyday we are struck by one tragedy after another. Deeply pained & heartbroken to learn that a Migrant labour family was run over by a goods train in #Aurangabad. My heartfelt condolences to the grieving families & prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.
- Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) May 8, 2020
Two days ago I had tweeted why the central and state governments are oblivious of the fact that thousands of migrant workers are still trudging to their home states.
- P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 8, 2020
Extremely saddened & shocked to know about the #Aurangabad rail accident where migrant labourers lost their lives.
- Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 8, 2020
My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.
"'Home they brought our hard working migrants dead' Stunned&saddened reading about this tragedy. Just feeling so helpless, heart is heavy ~ all they wanted was to go home. My condolences," tweets Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi
Very unfortunate news again !!
- yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) May 8, 2020
My prayers are with the innocent who lost their lives in the tragic rail accident this morning at Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Deepest condolences to their families in this hour of grief and difficulty🙏
"The migrant workers are distressed. The way they are being treated by the Centre and State Governments is very wrong. Not even proper food and accommodation is being arranged for them," Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati was quoted as saying by news agency ANI
In a tweet this afternoon, election strategist Prashant Kishor took a jibe at the governments -0 centre and state -today, accusing them of apathy. "The faceless #MigrantWorkers are reduced to mere statistics...both in their lives and death. Make no mistake, but for few exceptions, Govts both at center & states have been brazen in leaving them at their fate and the mercy of the greed of the society.#CryforJalna," he wrote in a tweet.
The faceless #MigrantWorkers are reduced to mere statistics...both in their lives and death.
- Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) May 8, 2020
Make no mistake, but for few exceptions, Govts both at center & states have been brazen in leaving them at their fate and the mercy of the greed of the society.#CryforJalna
Can it get any worse for the migrants workers. This is a tragedy to see them die in a train accident in Aurangabad. Very sad. https://t.co/K1VKNMUhqc
- Sushmita Dev (@sushmitadevinc) May 8, 2020
Deeply saddened by the unfortunate train tragedy in Aurangabad. My sincere condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.#Aurangabad
- Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) May 8, 2020
"Saddened beyond words to learn about the loss of lives in the railway track accident near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. Wishing speedy recovery to the injured," tweeted President Ram Nath Kovind.
Saddened beyond words to learn about the loss of lives in the railway track accident near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. Wishing speedy recovery to the injured.
- President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) May 8, 2020
Deeply pained by the train accident in #Aurangabad which has claimed many lives. My heartfelt condolences to the grieving families. I also pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.
- N Chandrababu Naidu #StayHomeSaveLives (@ncbn) May 8, 2020
West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, who has been vocal about plight of migrants, tweeted: "I am struck by grief to hear of the horrific incident involving a goods train which ran over innocent migrants in #Aurangabad, Maharashtra. My deep condolences to the families of the deceased. May their souls rest in peace. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured."
I am deeply distressed by the death of labourers in a rail accident in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families.
- Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) May 8, 2020
Pained beyond words at the loss of lives due to a rail accident in Maharashtra. I have spoken to Railway Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, concerned authorities in the central govt and railway administration to ensure all possible assistance. My condolences with the bereaved families.
- Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 8, 2020
"Got the tragic news of death of labourers in a train accident. May god bless the souls and give strength to family members to bear the pain. Wish a speedy recovery to those injured," Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted in Hindi.
The Rail accident in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district is extremely tragic and unfortunate. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident.I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.
- Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 8, 2020
