Tens of thousands of people have been walking home from India's big cities after being laid off because of the lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus since late March.
The driver tried to stop the freight train when he saw the workers on the tracks in the western state of Maharashtra, the railway ministry said, adding it had ordered an inquiry.
Fourteen people were killed and five were injured, said a railway spokesman, C.H. Rakesh.
"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.
#UPDATE 14 people have died in the accident and 5 injured. The injured have been shifted to Aurangabad civil hospital: Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of South Central Railway (SCR) #MaharashtraMore details awaited. https://t.co/VwXjLmWPM4— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2020
The government has extended the lockdown until May 17.
Walking to their villages
Police said the labourers worked for a steel company and were walking to their village in the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh.
"They had been walking all night, they were exhausted and fell asleep on the tracks," a police officer said
Modi said on Twitter he was anguished by the loss of lives in the train accident and all possible assistance was being provided.
Extremely anguished by the loss of lives due to the rail accident in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Have spoken to Railway Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and he is closely monitoring the situation. All possible assistance required is being provided.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 8, 2020
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