Ratlam/Kota, May 17: Panic gripped passengers after a fire erupted in an air conditioned coach of the Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam district early Sunday, railway authorities said. No injuries or casualties were reported in the incident.
According to railway officials, the blaze was detected around 5.15 am in the B-1 coach of train number 12431 while it was passing between Vikramgarh Alot and Lunirichha stations under the Kota railway division. The coach was carrying 68 passengers at the time of the incident.
Officials said the overhead electric supply was immediately shut down and the affected coach was separated from the train to prevent the fire from spreading. Firefighting teams managed to bring the situation under control within a short time.
All passengers were safely evacuated from the coach and shifted to other compartments for their onward journey to Kota in Rajasthan, railway spokespersons said.
Railway authorities stated that an additional coach would be attached at Kota station to restore the train’s full carrying capacity. The train was expected to reach Kota around 11 am.
Senior officials, including the Divisional Railway Manager of Ratlam division, rushed to the spot, while an accident relief train was also dispatched to assist with restoration work.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and an investigation is underway, officials added.