Aurangabad Train Accident: The migrants were walking from Jalna to Bhusaval, 157 km apart.
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
Aurangabad Accident: Hemant Soren Condoles Death Of 15 Migrants In Train Accident
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.
Aurangabad Accident: Bodies Of Migrants To Be Brought To Madhya Pradesh By Train
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.
Centre and states must work closely to ensure labourers reach their homes safely, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said today as he called the Aurangabad train accident "heart wrenching", news agency PTI reported.
Aurangabad Accident: Migrants Should Not "Risk Their Lives," Says Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has appealed to the labourers to have patience and not undertake risky journeys to their home states. "The incident is painful. It is disturbing to see how desperate migrant workers in Maharashtra are to return to their home states," Mr Pawar said in a statement, news agency PTI reported.
"Workers should wait till their turn comes a arrangements are made (to ensure their return). They should not risk their lives travelling in an unsafe manner," he said.
"Yesterday, Vizag And Now This Horrific News," Tweets Actor Ajay Devgn
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.
Aurangabad Accident: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's Appeal To Migrant WorkersMaharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today appealed to migrant workers to not put their lives at risk.
"The state government is in constant touch with the Railway ministry . A train will start from Mumbai, too, soon. I appeal to workers not to put their lives at risk."
"Shelter camps for the stranded workers are being operated by district administration. Arrangements for food and medicine have been made in these camps. Don''t leave the camps till you are informed about
train schedule," Mr Thackeray said in the statement, news agency
PTI reported.
Aurangabad Train Accident: "Deeply Saddened," BSP Chief Mayawati Speaking on Aurangabad train accident in which 16 migrant labourers were run over by a goods train today in Maharashtra, BSP chief Mayawati today was quoted as saying by news agency ANI: "The Aurangabad incident is heart-wrenching, this is a result of the Central government's carelessness or not? I am deeply saddened about it. May their families get the strength to bear the pain."
Railways Announces Probe Into Aurangabad Accident The Railways has announced a comprehensive probe into the incident. "Ram Kripal, Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Central Circle, will hold an independent inquiry into today''s labourers runover incident in Parbhani-Manmad section of Nanded Railway division of South Central Railway," the Railway Ministry announced, news agency PTI reported.
"Heart-Wrenching": Maharashtra Governor On Aurangabad AccidentMaharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari expressed grief over the death of migrants in a statement as he called it a "heart-wrenching" tragedy. In his condolence message, the Governor said: "The news of the unfortunate death of innocent workers, who were sleeping on railway tracks and were run over by a goods train, is heart-wrenching."
"Convey my deepest condolences and sympathies to the next of kin of the deceased, Raj Bhavan statement quoted Koshyari as saying, news agency PTI reported.
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. In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said no migrant worker should walk back home from big cities like Delhi.
Aurangabad Train Accident: "Counselling The Survivors," Says PoliceFour of the survivors, who are in shock, are being counselled by the police, senior police officer Mokshada Patil said. The fifth survivor has been admitted to hospital with injuries. "We are counselling the survivors before we speak to them for more details," Ms Patil said.
Shivraj Chouhan's Appeal To Migrants After Aurangabad Accident
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.
Rs 5 Lakh Compensation For Families Of Those Killed In Aurangabad Train Accident
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 Stuck By One Tragedy After Another," Tweets Actor Riteish DeshmukhActor Riteish Deshmukh was one of the few Bollywood celebrities who tweeted on Aurangabad train accident. "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," he tweeted.
Congress's P Chidambaram Responds To Migrants' Plight After Aurangabad Accident
Aurangabad Train Accident: "Extremely Saddened," Tweets Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisFormer Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also tweeted condolences. "Extremely saddened & shocked to know about the #Aurangabad rail accident where migrant labourers lost their lives. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones," he wrote.
"Stunned And Saddened," Tweets Priyanka Chaturvedi
"'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
"Deepest Condolences," Tweets Cricketer Yuvraj Singh Cricketer Yuvraj Singh tweeted on Aurangabad Accident: "Very unfortunate news again !! 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 difficultyFolded hands," he wrote.
"Migrants Are Distressed," Says BSP Chief Mayawati
"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
Poll Strategist Prashant Kishor Takes Jibe At Government Hours After Aurangabad Accident
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.
Aurangabad Train Accident: "Saddened Beyond Words," Tweets President
"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.
TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu's Post On Aurangabad Accident
"Stuck By Grief," Tweets Mamata Banerjee On Aurangabad Train Accident
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."
"Deepest Condolences," Tweets Prakash Javadekar On Aurangabad Train Accident
"Pained Beyond Words," Tweets Home Minister Amit Shah
"Tragic News": Shivraj Singh Chouhan On Death Of Labourers From Madhya Pradesh
"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.
"It is most heart wrenching to know several migrant workers were crushed to death by a train in #Aurangabad. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May they find strength in this terrible time. (sic)," tweeted Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
"Extemely Tragic And Unfortunate": Rajnath Singh On Aurangabad Accident
"We Should Be Ashamed": Rahul Gandhi On Death Of Migrants "I am stunned with the news of migrants being crushed by goods trains. We should be ashamed of the treatment being meted out to our nation builders. I express condolences towards the families of those who have died. Wish a speedy recovery to those who have been injured," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
Last week, the government ordered "Shramik" special trains for migrants who need to return home for emergency reasons.
Aurangabad Train Accident: Driver Tried To Stop The Train, Says Railways The migrants were sleeping on the tracks when the train hit them around 5.15 am. The driver spotted them and tried to stop but could not, the Railways Ministry said in a statement.