The Railway Safety Commissioner (CRS) will investigate the circumstances in which the Karnataka Express crushed 12 passengers standing on the tracks in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district on Wednesday, officials said. CRS (Central Circle) Manoj Arora said he will reach the accident site between Pardhade and Maheji railway stations near Pachora, 400 km from Mumbai, on Thursday morning. 

Statements of eyewitnesses will be taken

Arora said statements of passengers and other eyewitnesses will be recorded. "We will invite passengers and other eyewitnesses. They can give their statements about the accident," he said. A railway official from the Bhusaval division of Central Railway said the CRS will also talk to the crew members of the trains involved in the accident. 

Passengers landed on the tracks after rumours of fire

At least 12 passengers were killed and 15 others injured in the mishap in Jalgaon district of north Maharashtra on Wednesday evening after some passengers derailed following rumours of a fire in a train and were hit by another train coming from the opposite direction on the adjacent track, officials said.

Ashwini Vaishnav expressed condolences 

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav expressed grief over the death of 12 passengers after being hit by a train in Jalgaon district. The incident occurred when some passengers jumped off the Pushpak Express near Jalgaon due to rumours of a fire in their coach. They were hit by the Karnataka Express that came on the nearby track.

A statement issued by the Railway Board said, "Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has expressed deep grief over the incident. He took full information about the incident from the Chairman of the Railway Board and other officials and directed for proper treatment of all the injured. "It said, "He expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the incident. " Vaishnav is currently in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum.