A freight train ran over a group of workers sleeping on the tracks in India's western Maharashtra state on Friday, killing at least 14, railway and police officials said.
The group had stopped to rest while walking to the town of Bhusawal to catch a train that would take them to their home state of Madhya Pradesh, police said.
They are among tens of thousands of migrant workers who have been left without jobs and without transport to return to their homes amid India's coronavirus lockdown. With the restrictions being eased over the past week, some state governments began organising special train and bus services to bring these workers home.
According to railway officials and police in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra where the accident occurred, 14 workers died on the spot and five were injured.
They worked at a steel company in the town of Jalna and were walking to catch a special train to Madhya Pradesh from the station in Bhusawal, a distance of about 100 kilometres, police officials told the Indian Express newspaper.
"They had been walking all night, they were exhausted and fell asleep on the tracks," a police officer said.
Because of the lockdown, they were probably not expecting any trains to be moving, an official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "extremely anguished" by the loss of lives and that "all possible assistance" was being provided.
The nationwide lockdown, imposed by Mr Modi on March 25 with four hours' notice, has hit India’s 400 million internal migrants the hardest. A vast majority of them labour on construction sites, operate factories, or clean homes in cities, contributing a combined 40 per cent to national output but earning paltry wages and denied job security.
Critics of Mr Modi say his government has not done enough to help those who have been hit the hardest by the lockdown. The measure has been extended twice and is now scheduled to be lifted on May 17.
"Shocked by the deaths of migrant workers hit by train. We should be ashamed of how we treat our nation-builders," said Rahul Gandhi, leader of the main opposition Congress party.
India has been reporting steadily increasing numbers of infections despite the lockdown. Authorities on Friday announced 3,390 more cases detected and 103 deaths in the previous 24 hours.
Total cases in the country of 1.3 billion people now stand at more than 56,000, with 1,886 fatalities, according to health ministry data. More than 16,500 people have recovered.
The coastal state of Maharashtra remains the worst affected with almost 20,000 cases and 651 deaths.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
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The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
