Six women lost their lives on Wednesday morning after they were struck by an incoming train while alighting from the wrong side at Chunar Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district. The tragedy occurred around 9:30 am when passengers got off the Chopan Express directly onto the tracks instead of using the available foot-over bridge, moments before the Netaji Express approached the station from Howrah to Kalkaji. The victims had travelled to the region for Kartik Purnima Snan and were attempting to cross to the platform when the collision happened.

Railway officials confirmed that despite clear access to a safe crossing, passengers chose to step onto the tracks, leading to the fatal accident. The Railways stated that the Chopan Express had halted at platform four, but several passengers still opted to get down on the track, resulting in the devastating impact of the oncoming Netaji Express. Authorities identified the deceased as Savita (28), Sadhna (16), Shiv Kumari (12), Anju Devi (20), Sushila Devi (60) and Kalawati (50). Both the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force were immediately dispatched to the site for rescue and relief operations.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences and directed officials to expedite relief efforts, while Union Minister and local MP Anupriya Patel also shared her grief on social media, assuring that district officials were mobilised swiftly. Government Railway Police Inspector Raghvendra Singh confirmed the death toll and emphasised the need for strict adherence to safety protocols at railway stations. Leaders urged passengers to prioritise safety and avoid unsafe practices such as crossing tracks, especially during festival-related rush hours.