A man was killed and several passengers escaped unhurt when a fire broke out in two air-conditioned coaches of the Tata Nagar–Ernakulam Express (Train No. 18189) at Duvvada in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district early Monday morning, police told PTI.
What happened- all we know
The train, running from Tatanagar to Ernakulam via Visakhapatnam, caught fire around 1:30 am after passing Duvvada. Flames started in the B1 and M2 AC coaches, which were next to the pantry car.
Railway police said the fire was first noticed by the train drivers near a railway point close to Yelamanchili, and the train was immediately stopped at the station. But before firefighters could reach, the blaze spread quickly and completely gutted the two AC coaches.
As thick smoke spread through the coaches, panic broke out and passengers hurried onto the platforms, many not knowing what was happening. Witnesses said the heavy smoke reduced visibility, deepening the fear and confusion. Railway officials later confirmed that most passengers were safe, bringing a sense of relief to both travellers and authorities, according to a report by Hindustan Times.
However, one passenger, 70-year-old Chandrasekhar Sundar from Vijayawada, was trapped in the B1 AC coach and died from burns, according to the PTI report.
The train eventually reached Anakapalli nearly four hours late. Firefighters from Anakapalli, Elamanchili, and Nakkapalli rushed to the scene and worked for several hours to control the fire. Despite their efforts, all belongings in the two coaches were destroyed.
Senior railway officials visited the station to assess the situation. Ambulances were stationed nearby and passengers had to wait at the cold station for several hours.
Rail traffic disrupted on Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada route
Rail traffic on the Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada route was temporarily suspended, causing delays. After 3:30 am, the burnt coaches were removed, and passengers were shifted to other compartments.
Passengers from the damaged coaches were taken to Samarlakota in three APSRTC buses. There, two replacement AC coaches were attached, and the Tata–Ernakulam Express resumed its journey.
Several trains from Visakhapatnam to Vijayawada were delayed, with some halted at Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, and Tuni until normal operations resumed.
Railway officials have also ordered a thorough investigation to find out what exactly caused the fire and whether there were any safety lapses. Two forensic teams have been sent to examine the spot and determine how the fire broke out, a police official told PTI.