Visakhapatnam (IANS) A passenger was killed, and more than 150 had a narrow escape after two AC compartments of the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Junction Super-Fast Express caught fire near Visakhapatnam in the wee hours of Monday, police said.
The fire broke out in the train at Yelamanchili in Anakapalli district, about 66 km from Visakhapatnam. Upon noticing the fire in the running train, a passenger pulled the chain to stop it at Yelamanchili Railway Station and alerted the railway staff, who in turn alerted the fire department.
Four fire engines rushed to the spot and battled the fire for two hours. The fire services personnel prevented the fire from spreading to adjoining compartments and a goods train on the parallel track.
Both compartments were gutted in the fire. Passengers lost all their luggage. Anakapalli district Superintendent of Police Tuhin Sinha told reporters that they received information about the fire at 12:40 a.m.
He said the fire services personnel responded immediately, which averted a major disaster. All passengers were evacuated from both compartments. There were 82 passengers in the B-1 coach and 75 in the M-2 coach when the train caught fire.
The SP said a dead body was found on the B1 coach. The deceased has been identified as Chandrasekhar Sundaram (70), a resident of Vijayawada, and his family members have been informed, police said.
The two damaged coaches were detached from the train, which proceeded towards Ernakulam, where two other AC coaches were attached. Two forensic teams are working to ascertain the cause of the fire, the police official said.
South Central Railway Safety Commissioner also visited the spot. He, along with the SP, inspected the gutted compartments. The fire mishap affected the movement of trains on the route. Godavari and Tirupati-Howrah Express trains heading towards Visakhapatnam were delayed. Trains scheduled to halt at Yelamanchili were halted at Visakhapatnam. Puri-Tirupati, Shalimar-Cherlapalli, Visakhapatnam-Lingampalli and Visakhapatnam-Guntur are among the trains delayed due to a fire incident.
Railways have set up helpline numbers to provide assistance and train running information following the fire in the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express at Andhra Pradesh’s Yelamanchili early on Monday.
South Central Railway (SCR) set up the following helpline numbers: Yelamanchili – 7815909386, Anakapalli – 7569305669, Tuni – 7815909479, Samalkot – 7382629990, Rajahmundry – 088 – 32420541, 088 – 32420543, Eluru – 7569305268, and Vijayawada – 0866 – 2575167.
The SCR said in a release that a fire incident was reported in Train No 18189 Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express at around 12.45 a.m. while reaching Yelamanchili Railway Station.
It said B1 and M2 coaches caught fire. The Railway staff swiftly acted and immediately informed the Fire Brigade. Railway officials also swung into action immediately, took up immediate measures, and assisted passengers in deboarding the train. The Fire Brigade reached the spot and extinguished the fire.
Railway officials said the affected coaches were detached, and one more AC III Tier Coach (M1) was also removed as a precautionary measure.
The leftover train formation is being moved to Samalkot Railway Station, and three empty coaches are being arranged to attach to the train formation at Samalkot.
Meanwhile, passengers of the two affected coaches are being shifted to Samalkot Railway Station by bus services.
Commissioner of Railway Safety/SCR, DRM Vijayawada and senior officers rushed to the site. The South Central Railway’s General Manager is also rushing to the spot.
Forensic team and medical team moving to the spot to collect clues to find out the cause of the fire and also ascertain casualty, if any, said the SCR statement.
All necessary precautions in coordination with local administration are being taken, it added.
According to local police, the body of a passenger was found in one of the damaged coaches. The deceased was identified as Chandrsekhar Sundaram, 70, a resident of Vijayawada.
There were 82 passengers in the B-1 coach and 75 in the M-2 coach when the train caught fire.
