Mirzapur, UP: A tragic incident occurred at Chunar Railway Station in Mirzapur on Wednesday morning when six women – including two sisters – were killed after being hit by the Kalka Express. The accident took place around 9:30 am amid heavy rush on the station due to Kartik Purnima festivities.
How the Accident Happened
According to eyewitnesses, a passenger train from Chopan had arrived at platform number 3 of Chunar station. Due to the large crowd, several devotees attempted to cross the railway tracks instead of using the foot overbridge.
At the same time, the Kalka Express, which does not have a scheduled halt at Chunar, passed through the station at high speed. Many passengers managed to climb back onto the platform, but six women could not make it in time and were fatally struck.
The impact was severe – witnesses said the victims’ remains were scattered across nearly 50 meters of track. Railway and local authorities later packed the bodies and sent them for postmortem examination.
Officials’ Response and Site Visit
Following the incident, Vindhyachal Divisional Commissioner Rajesh Prakash and DIG RP Singh reached the spot to assess the situation. They were joined by District Magistrate Pawan Gangwar and Minister Sanjeev Gaur, who met the victims’ families and reviewed the response of local authorities.
District Magistrate Pawan Gangwar, an IAS officer of 2014 batch, confirmed that six women lost their lives while crossing to another platform. He added that all bodies were being sent for autopsy and that the administration is providing full assistance to the bereaved families.
Minister Sanjeev Gaur, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, assured that financial aid will be extended to the victims’ families. He also stated that the incident is under investigation, particularly regarding the crowd management and platform arrangements.
Police Statement
Prayagraj GRP SP Prashant Verma, an IPS officer of 2014 batch, said that security arrangements had been made at the railway station and that police personnel were deployed. He noted that some devotees attempted to cross the track from the opposite side instead of using the designated route.
“If any negligence is found, strict action will be taken,” said SP Verma.
Eyewitness Account
Eyewitnesses said the station was overcrowded due to the religious occasion, with hundreds of devotees trying to reach the nearby Ganga Ghat, located just 2–3 km away. Many expressed anger that the Kalka Express was not slowed down despite the visible crowd on the tracks.
A Day of Faith Turns Tragic
The accident has left the city of Mirzapur in mourning. What began as a day of devotion and faith for hundreds of pilgrims turned into a devastating tragedy, raising questions about railway crowd management and public safety during festive occasions.
Victims Identified
Authorities confirmed that five victims were from Mirzapur and one from Sonbhadra district.
The deceased were identified as:
- Savita (28)
- Sadhna (15)
- Shivkumari (17)
- Anju Devi (20)
- Sushila Devi (60)
- Kalavati Devi (50) – resident of Sonbhadra
All six were devotees visiting Chunar to take a holy dip in the Ganga during Kartik Purnima.
