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Tribune News Service
Mumbai, May 8
Sixteen migrant workers, all aged between 20 and 35, who were returning on foot to their home state of Madhya Pradesh, were hit by a freight train in Aurangabad. Three others were injured. The accident occurred between Badnapur and Karmad stations.
Edit: No homecoming
The workers, who worked in a steel processing unit in Jalna, chose to sleep on the tracks at night. They were cut shortly after 5 am.
More trains are being organized to send migrant workers home. Please stay where you are. – Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra CM
In a message on Twitter, the Ministry of Railways said the freight train driver tried to apply the brakes but was unable to stop the train. A query has been ordered.
Aurangabad police said the workers were heading to Bhusaval, 170 km from the Jalna district, hoping to catch a train to their villages in MP. Walking on the tracks, the group decided to rest at night, apparently to avoid being caught by police at roadside checkpoints. Vaibhav Kalumbarme, Superintendent of the Government Railway Police, said the group of 19 workers started walking on Thursday morning. After traveling 45 km, “they fell asleep exhausted and did not hear the train approach.”
The Maharashtra and MP governments have announced compensation to the relatives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the deaths. President Ram Nath Kovind said he was sad beyond words. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said he was deeply sad.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the treatment of “nation builders” was shameful. Aurangabad deputy Imtiaz Jaleel of AIMIM called it “murder” of migrant workers. Jaleel demanded that criminal cases be brought against the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Railways and the Maharashtra Government for “ignoring the plight of thousands of stranded workers.”
(PTI Tickets)
The driver tried to apply the brakes
The Ministry of Railways said the freight train driver tried to brake when he saw people sleeping on the tracks, but was unable to stop the train. A query has been ordered.
Protect workers: 8 parties in Prez
Accusing the Center of “stripping workers of their rights,” eight opposition parties, including the left and the RJD, have written to President Ram Nath Kovind, citing the Aurangabad tragedy. TNS
UP suspends labor laws for 1,000 days
UP on Thursday passed the Uttar Pradesh-2020 Exemption Ordinance that suspends all but four labor laws for 1,000 days to boost the industrial and commercial sector hit by the Covid-19 blockade. TNS
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