MP Train Tragedy: False Fire Alarm and Blind Curve Blamed for Deaths of Four Passengers

Railway authorities have attributed the deaths of four passengers in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district to a combination of panic triggered by a false fire alarm and poor visibility caused by a sharp curve on the railway track.

The incident occurred on Sunday when passengers aboard the Khajuraho-Udaipur Intercity Express reportedly became alarmed by rumours of a fire inside the train. Following emergency chain-pulling, the train came to a halt between Hetampur and Dholpur stations under the Jhansi railway division.

Amid the confusion, four passengers, three women and a four-year-old boy stepped off the train and moved onto a parallel track. They were struck by the oncoming Patalkot Express , resulting in their deaths.

According to Jhansi Divisional Railway Manager Anirudh Kumar , a sharp curve near the accident site prevented both the passengers and the locomotive pilot from seeing each other in time. Although the train driver applied the brakes after noticing people on the tracks, the collision could not be avoided.

Railway officials said preliminary findings indicate there was no actual fire on the train. Investigators are examining the circumstances that led to the rumour and the subsequent panic among passengers.

A railway staff member on patrol near the site alerted authorities immediately after the accident. Senior officials visited the location and met the bereaved families.

The Railways has ordered a high-level inquiry led by the Senior Divisional Safety Officer to determine the exact sequence of events and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents. Initial financial assistance has been extended to the victims' families, with further support under consideration.

The tragedy has renewed concerns over passenger safety and the dangers posed by panic during emergency situations.