14 Migrant Workers Stranded by Coronavirus Crushed on Train Tracks in India

Police officers examine the railway track after a train ran over migrant workers sleeping on the track in Aurangabad district in the western state of Maharashtra, India, on May 8, 2020. (Stringer/Reuters)

NEW DELHI—At least 14 Indian migrant workers stranded without work, sleeping on the train tracks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were ran over and killed by a train on Friday, while apparently attempting to return to their home villages, the railway ministry and media said.

Tens of thousands of people have been walking home from India’s big cities after losing their jobs because of a lockdown to contain the spread of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, since late March.

The driver tried to stop the freight train when he saw the labourers on the tracks in the western state of Maharashtra, the railway ministry said, adding it had ordered an inquiry.

“I have just heard the sad news about labourers coming under the train, rescue work is underway,” Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on Twitter.

Under the lockdown, all public transport has been suspended so migrant workers heading home often have to walk long distances to get there.

The government has extended the lockdown until May 17.

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.