The migrant workers were on their way to their hometown on foot as they fell asleep on the train track and the accident happened. The driver tried to stop the freight train when he saw the people on the track, but could not. An investigation has now been launched, according to local authorities, reports the Times of India.

India has been severely shut down to stop the spread of coronas and it is probably because of this that the workers probably did not expect any trains on the route in Maharashtra, according to Indian police. 

Tens of thousands of unemployed

Tens of thousands of people in India's major cities have become unemployed in the suites of the shutdown of society and it is not uncommon for people to walk on foot.

The workers worked for a steel company and had lost their jobs as a result of the corona virus.

14 people died and five were injured, according to a spokesman for the railway, writes Times of India.  

"Extremely upset"

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commented on the incident on Twitter.

“I am extremely upset about this loss of human life due to the rail accident. I have spoken to Railway Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and he is monitoring the situation closely. We give them all the help they need, ”he writes.