Fire Breaks Out in Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Express

A significant fire incident occurred on the Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express in Ratlam district, Madhya Pradesh, early on Sunday morning. Railway officials confirmed that as many as 68 passengers were evacuated within 15 minutes, with no reported injuries or fatalities.

The blaze was first reported at approximately 5.15 am in the B-1 coach of train number 12431, which was en route from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi. At the time of the incident, the train was located between the Vikramgarh Alot and Lunirichha stations, according to Mukesh Kumar, the Public Relations Officer for the Ratlam division.

The train departed from Ratlam Junction at around 3.45 am. Railway officials stated that the crew became aware of the fire when the guard spotted flames from the coach. Immediate action was taken to halt the train and initiate emergency evacuation procedures. Furthermore, the electric supply overhead was promptly cut to prevent any potential hazards.

Firefighting operations commenced swiftly, but the flames did also extend to the second luggage-cum-guard van following the B-1 coach. A statement from the West Central Railway, Kota Division, noted that all passengers had safely disembarked and no injuries were sustained among passengers or railway staff. The affected B-1 coach was detached from the rest of the train to facilitate further action.

Once the fire was extinguished, the coach and the damaged van were removed from the train composition, allowing the train to resume its journey around 9.45 am. Ravindra Lakhara, another public relations officer for the Kota railway division, indicated that the passengers displaced from the affected coach were accommodated in other compartments for the remaining journey to Kota. Additionally, an extra coach is set to be added at Kota station to restore the train’s capabilities.

This incident had ramifications for the Delhi-Mumbai rail route, disrupting the schedules of at least five to six trains. Various other trains were halted at different stations due to safety protocols. Railway authorities have established helpline numbers for passengers needing updates on train services.

Ajay Kumar Kalara, the Divisional Railway Manager for Ratlam, monitored the situation closely while a relief train and a tower wagon were dispatched to the location to assist in rescue and restoration efforts. An official investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the fire, involving examinations of the affected coach and associated equipment.

This incident marks the second occurrence in a fortnight, following a similar episode on May 15, when a fire broke out in two air-conditioned coaches of the Hyderabad-Jaipur Special Express at Nampally Railway Station. No casualties were reported from that incident either, according to railway officials and information from the Press Trust of India.