Four passengers were killed in a tragic railway accident near Hetampur railway station in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district on Sunday around 4:15 pm. The incident happened between Hetampur and Dholpur stations in the Jhansi Division after panic reportedly spread inside Train No. 19665 Khajuraho-Udaipur Intercity Express due to a rumour of fire.
According to preliminary details from North Central Railway, the train had stopped after the Alarm Chain Pulling mechanism was activated in a general coach. After the sudden halt, several passengers reportedly got down from the train and moved towards a neighbouring railway track. At the same time, Train No. 20424 Firozpur-Seoni Patalkot Express was approaching on the Up line and hit some of the passengers.
The accident led to four deaths. The deceased were identified as Afreen, 35, wife of Nadeem Khan from Agra; her four-year-old son; Shakuntala, 60, also from Agra; and Virma Devi, 60, from Bikaner in Rajasthan. A woman passenger said the panic started after someone pulled the emergency chain and shouted that a fire had broken out. She said many passengers rushed out of the train in fear, and some were struck while crossing or standing near the adjacent track.
Soon after the accident, officials from the Railway Administration, Railway Protection Force, Government Railway Police and local administration reached the spot. Relief and support operations were started immediately, and railway officials said necessary assistance is being provided to affected passengers and their families.
The exact reason for the Alarm Chain Pulling has not yet been confirmed. Railway authorities have ordered a detailed inquiry to establish the full sequence of events and identify the circumstances that caused the tragedy. A committee of senior Judge Advocate General level railway officers has been formed to conduct the investigation.
The Railway Administration has urged passengers not to get down from trains without permission, whether the train is moving or stationary. Officials also advised travellers not to step onto railway tracks during emergencies and to wait for instructions from railway staff.
The Morena train tragedy shows how quickly fear, rumours and crowd movement can turn dangerous in railway emergencies. The incident has raised concerns about passenger safety awareness, emergency communication inside trains and the risks of walking near active railway tracks. As the investigation continues, officials are expected to examine the fire rumour, the emergency chain pulling, passenger movement after the halt and the timing of the Patalkot Express on the nearby track.
