Rajdhani Express Fire Near Ratlam: Passengers Evacuated Safely
Fire broke out in Rajdhani Express; all 68 passengers evacuated safely.
Top Summary
- What happened: A fire erupted in the B-1 coach and adjoining SLR coach of the Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express near Ratlam.
- Why it matters: Highlights the importance of railway safety protocols and rapid response in emergency situations to prevent casualties.
- What changes: Rail traffic on the Delhi-Mumbai route was disrupted for approximately two hours due to the incident.
- Who is affected: The 68 passengers in the affected coach and passengers on nearby coaches, as well as travelers on the Delhi-Mumbai route, were impacted.
Fire Breaks Out on Rajdhani Express
A major fire occurred in the Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam district early Sunday morning. The incident took place around 5:15 am. The affected coaches were the B-1 coach and an adjoining SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake) coach of Train No. 12431.
The location was between Luni Richha and Vikramgarh Alot stations under the West Central Railway's Kota Division. Railway officials reported that there were 68 passengers in the B-1 coach. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties have been reported.
Swift Evacuation Prevents Casualties
The train guard noticed smoke and flames and immediately alerted the loco pilot. The train was promptly stopped, and emergency evacuation procedures were initiated. The overhead electric (OHE) supply was disconnected. The affected coach was detached to prevent further spread of the fire.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, along with onboard railway staff, quickly de-boarded the passengers. The coach was cleared in approximately 15 minutes. Nearby coaches were also evacuated as a precaution.
"All passengers of the affected coach were safely deboarded. No injury or casualty to any passenger or railway staff. OHE supply was cut immediately. The affected B-1 coach was detached from the rake," said the West Central Railway, Kota Division.
Response and Investigation
Relief and rescue teams from the Kota Railway Division were dispatched. Senior railway officials, including DRM Anil Kalra, along with police and fire department teams, arrived to oversee operations.
Saurabh Jain, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Kota Division, stated that additional coaches were being arranged from Kota. The remaining part of the train was expected to continue after operational formalities.
Impact on Rail Traffic
The incident caused disruptions on the Delhi-Mumbai route. Train movement was affected for around two hours while rescue and safety checks were conducted.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Railway authorities are examining the affected coach and equipment to determine the source. This is the second fire incident in two weeks. On May 15, a fire occurred in two AC coaches of the Hyderabad-Jaipur Special Express at Nampally Railway Station.
What to Watch Next
The railway authorities will focus on determining the cause of the fire to prevent future incidents. The investigation report and any resulting safety enhancements will be closely monitored.