Eleven passengers tragically lost their lives on Wednesday in Maharashtra, India, after jumping off a moving train amid fears of a fire, only to be struck by an oncoming train.

The incident occurred in Jalgaon district, approximately 400 kilometres from Mumbai, and has once again highlighted safety issues in India’s extensive railway network, which serves millions of passengers daily.

Ayush Prasad, a senior district official, confirmed the fatalities and stated that five other passengers are receiving medical treatment. “People were run over by a train,” he said, without clarifying if the fire alarm was genuine or false.

READ MORE: NCC Approves 50% Tariff Increase On Phone Calls, Data, SMS

According to a spokesperson for Indian Railways, the chaos began when someone activated the “alarm chain” on the Mumbai-bound train, prompting several passengers to disembark. Tragically, they were struck by a train traveling in the opposite direction.

India’s interior minister, Amit Shah, expressed his grief over the incident, saying, “Deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident.” Maharashtra’s chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, described the tragedy as “deeply disturbing” and said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Despite efforts to modernise the railway infrastructure with a $30 billion investment aimed at improving safety and connectivity, accidents remain a significant concern. Official records indicate that an average of 20,000 people died annually in rail-related accidents between 2017 and 2021.

In 2023, one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters claimed nearly 300 lives when a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train, leading to further collisions.

India continues to grapple with balancing its rapid economic growth with ensuring the safety of its ageing railway network.

The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed regret on Tuesday over the decision by President Donald Trump’s administration to withdraw the United States from the global health body.

WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic addressed the media, stating, “The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the organisation.

“We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe.”

The move comes after Trump, on his first day back in the White House, signed an executive order initiating the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO, citing dissatisfaction with the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its failure to implement necessary reforms.

He also criticized the alleged political influence over the WHO. “That’s a big one,” Trump said, referring to his previous attempt to exit the organization in 2020, which was blocked by President Joe Biden in 2021.

Public health experts have sharply criticized the decision. Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator, called the move a “strategic error,” warning that it could potentially increase China’s influence in global health matters.

READ ALSO: CSR: Dangote Awards Scholarships To 473 Students

Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown University, labeled the decision as “a cataclysmic presidential decision,” adding that it undermines both world health efforts and U.S. leadership on the global stage.

In response, China reiterated its support for the WHO.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, emphasized, “The role of the WHO should only be strengthened, not weakened. China will, as always, support the WHO in fulfilling its responsibilities… and work towards building a shared community of health for humanity.”

In a bold and controversial move on his first day back in office, President Donald Trump fired four senior officials appointed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, and signaled additional dismissals as imminent.

The announcement was made in Trump’s first Truth Social post following his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.

READ MORE:Trump Completes Return To White House, As 47th US President

“Our first day in the White House is not over yet! My Presidential Personnel Office is actively in the process of identifying and removing over a thousand Presidential Appointees from the previous Administration, who are not aligned with our vision to Make America Great Again,” Trump wrote in the post, titled “YOU’RE FIRED.”

The dismissed officials include Jose Andres of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition; Mark Milley from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council; Brian Hook of the Wilson Center for Scholars; and Keisha Lance Bottoms from the President’s Export Council.

Trump used his signature phrase from The Apprentice to emphasize their departure: “YOU’RE FIRED!”

The dismissals are part of a series of sweeping actions Trump has undertaken to reverse Biden-era policies and assert control over federal governance.

Among his first executive orders, Trump instituted a regulatory freeze, halting the implementation of any new rules until his administration has reviewed them.

Additionally, he ordered all federal employees to return to full-time, in-office work, reversing remote work policies from the previous administration.

In a further demonstration of his intent to reshape government, Trump suspended 78 executive orders issued during Biden’s tenure and reiterated his campaign pledge to streamline the federal workforce.

During his 29-minute inauguration speech, Trump outlined his vision for what he called a “Golden Age” in America while delivering sharp criticism of Biden’s administration.

He accused the previous administration of being “radical and corrupt,” pointing to the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires as evidence of its inability to manage domestic crises.

Several government institutions are now preparing for significant upheaval as Trump’s administration moves to implement additional campaign promises, including potential department closures and cuts to civil service roles.

Trump’s immediate and decisive actions have drawn both praise and criticism.

Supporters argue these steps are necessary to restore efficiency and align the government with Trump’s vision, while critics warn that such abrupt changes could deepen divisions and create instability within federal agencies.