16 migrant laborers killed in Aurangabad, Maharashtra due to freight train's hit

In India, 16 migrant laborers have died in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

South Central Railway has issued a statement saying that the accident took place between Badnapur and Karmad railway station of Parbhani-Manmad section in the early hours of Friday.

According to the statement, a freight train going towards Manmad climbed on a group of 19 people sleeping on the track. 14 people died on the spot, while 2 people succumbed to their injuries seriously.

The statement said that the driver from the goods train immediately rang the horn after seeing people sleeping on the track and tried his best to stop the train.

South Central Railway says that an independent investigation into the cause of the accident will be done under the chairmanship of Railway Safety Commissioner of South Central Railway Ram Kripal.

Earlier, Chief PRO of South Central Railway had confirmed the accident from BBC Hindi and stated that, "It seems that the workers were sleeping on the track".

A person injured in the accident is undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital in Aurangabad.

Aurangabad SP Mokshada Patil told BBC Marathi's Niranjan Chanwal that all the laborers worked in a steel factory in Jalna near Aurangabad.

These people were going from Jalna towards Bhusawal. He was told that a train would be available from Bhusaval.

The accident occurred between Badnapur and Karmad railway station on Parbhani-Manmad rail section.

"The workers were returning to Madhya Pradesh," an official at Karmad police station told PTI. They were walking along the railway track and slept on the track due to fatigue.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the accident by tweeting. He said in his tweet, "People are very sad to die in a train accident in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Talk to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. They are keeping a close watch on the whole matter. All possible help will be provided."

On the accident, the Indian Railways Ministry issued an official statement saying, "This morning when the loco pilot noticed that some laborers were sleeping on the track, they tried to stop the train. But eventually the train hit them. Investigation in this regard Has been ordered.

Railway Safety Commissioner Ram Kripal of the South-Central Zone will conduct an independent investigation into the train accident.