Amritsar-Saharsa train coach catches fire, one passenger suffers major burns

A fire broke out on board the Amritsar to Saharsa Garib Rath Express on Saturday morning — sparking widespread alarm and leaving at least one passenger severely injured. Officials had moved quickly to separate the affected coaches and evacuated passengers after the blaze was noticed at Sirhind Station in Punjab. The incident had also affected a few other trains using the same line and caused slight delays.

“Around 7:30 am, when this Amritsar to Saharsa train was crossing from Sirhind station, a fire and smoke was noted which was controlled at the station immediately. Within 15-20 minutes, affected coaches were separated from the other parts of the train. Passengers from the affected coaches were also rescued cautiously. One passenger suffered 30-40% burns,” Northern Railways Divisional Manager Vinod Bhatia told ANI.

Railway officials said an inquiry has been ordered into the matter and efforts remain underway to ascertain the cause of the fire. Bhatia reiterated that the details would become clear after forensic experts finished their analysis.

Passengers sound alarm

According to reports, the fire broke out around 7:30 am as the train was passing through Sirhind in Punjab. .A Government Railway Police official said smoke was noticed in one of the AC coaches — prompting a passenger to pull the chain alarm system and stop the train.

Thereafter, the passengers were safely evacuated from the coach, the official said. The fire soon engulfed the coach (G-19). Two other coaches also faced minor impact. The three coaches were separated from the rest of the train and fire tenders were immediately called in, the GRP official said.

The Railway Board said one person suffered minor injuries in the incident.A 32-year-old woman suffered some burn injuries and was taken to the Civil Hospital in Fatehgarh Sahib, said Station House Officer, GRP Sirhind, Rattan Lal. The officials said that soon after the fire was noticed, the railway authorities shifted the passengers from the affected coach to other coaches.

(With inputs from agencies)