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
May 08, 2020 18:19 (IST)
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.
May 08, 2020 18:13 (IST)
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.
May 08, 2020 15:47 (IST)
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.
May 08, 2020 13:44 (IST)
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
May 08, 2020 12:49 (IST)
"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
May 08, 2020 12:45 (IST)
"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