News
Austrian Man Rescued After Clinging to High-Speed Train
A 24-year-old man in Austria narrowly avoided death after clinging to the exterior of a high-speed Railjet train, forcing an emergency stop, authorities said on Sunday.
The incident unfolded late Saturday at St. Pölten, a city west of Vienna, when the train, bound for the Austrian capital from Zurich, began to depart. According to state railway operator ÖBB, the man had stepped outside for a cigarette break when the service started to move off.
In a desperate attempt to avoid being left behind, he jumped into the gap between two carriages and held on as the train gathered speed. Passengers reported hearing loud banging on the carriage windows, which drew the attention of both passengers and crew. The conductor immediately activated the emergency brake, bringing the train — capable of speeds up to 230 km/h — to a halt.
Railway staff pulled the man inside, where he was reportedly given a stern reprimand by the conductor, according to Austrian newspaper Heute. Despite the disruption, the train arrived in Vienna only seven minutes behind schedule.
Upon arrival at Vienna’s Meidling station, police took the man into custody. He remains under investigation, although officials have not confirmed whether he will face charges.
ÖBB strongly condemned the act, describing it as “extremely dangerous” and warning that such behaviour can result in serious injury or death. “It not only puts the individual at risk but also endangers passengers and emergency responders,” the railway company said in a statement.
The unusual episode bears similarities to an incident earlier this year in Germany, when a Hungarian man survived clinging to a high-speed train for over 30 kilometres after boarding was cut short by a premature departure.
In both cases, authorities emphasised that holding onto the outside of a moving train is not only illegal but can be fatal due to extreme speeds, sudden movements, and high-voltage lines.
While the man in St. Pölten escaped with his life, railway officials hope the case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by reckless actions near high-speed rail services.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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