The Central Railway authorities have issued a clarification regarding the tragic incident involving two men who lost their lives and one who was seriously injured near Nashik, dispelling earlier claims that the deaths occurred due to overcrowding on the Karmabhoomi Express, a train operating between Mumbai and Raxaul in Bihar. Initial reports had suggested that the victims fell from the train amid the rush of passengers travelling home ahead of Diwali, a period that typically sees heavy rail traffic. However, subsequent investigation revealed that the case was not related to congestion inside the train, but was instead a clear case of trespassing on railway tracks.
According to official statements from Central Railway, the unfortunate deaths did not result from passengers falling out of a crowded compartment, as initially speculated. Instead, the three men involved in the incident were not passengers at all. They had been crossing the railway tracks at the time of the accident, and the collision occurred when two trains approached simultaneously from opposite directions, leaving them with no time to react.
One of the survivors, identified as Jimal Shyamji, provided key details after regaining consciousness at a district government hospital. Shyamji confirmed that he and the two deceased men were construction labourers from Dahod in Gujarat, temporarily working in Malegaon, Maharashtra. Before the tragedy, the trio had undertaken a pilgrimage to Shirdi, a popular religious destination, and were returning after offering prayers.
In his statement to the authorities, Shyamji admitted that after completing their pilgrimage, the three had consumed alcohol before attempting to cross the tracks near Nashik. Unfortunately, in their inebriated state, they failed to notice the oncoming trains, leading to the fatal collision. Two of the men were struck and died instantly, while Shyamji sustained serious injuries and was rushed for emergency medical treatment.
Railway officials reiterated that the victims were not ticketed passengers on the Karmabhoomi Express, countering the widespread social media claims that overcrowding due to festive travel was responsible. The Central Railway emphasized that this was purely a case of illegal track crossing, a dangerous act that continues to claim lives across India despite repeated public awareness campaigns.
A senior railway official stated, “The incident did not occur onboard the Karmabhoomi Express. The deceased and the injured were trespassing on the railway tracks after consuming alcohol. This was not a passenger accident, and linking it to the festive rush is entirely misleading.”
Authorities have also appealed to the public to avoid crossing railway lines, urging commuters to use designated foot overbridges and subways to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by trespassing near active railway routes, especially during busy festive seasons when the rail network experiences peak movement.
As of now, Jimal Shyamji remains under medical care, while the bodies of the two deceased labourers have been handed over to their families following post-mortem procedures. The Central Railway has confirmed that an internal review of the case is underway, but no fault or negligence has been attributed to the railway staff or operations.
