A fire broke out in two coaches of the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express near Yalamanchili in Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the death of one passenger, officials said on Monday.
Authorities received the first report of the fire at 12:45 am. One coach had 82 passengers while the other had 76 on board at the time of the incident. The deceased was identified as Chandrashekhar Sundaram, aged 70.
The two affected coaches were detached from the train, which then proceeded towards Ernakulam. Arrangements are being made to send the passengers from the damaged coaches to their destinations.
A railway official said the fire was first noticed by loco pilots at Yalamanchili, prompting an immediate stop of the train. However, the flames had already spread rapidly to the AC coaches B1 and M2 before fire services arrived.
Thick smoke and dense fog added to passenger confusion and panic, causing many to disembark onto the platform without understanding the situation clearly.
Initial investigations suggest the fire may have started due to overheating of the brakes in the B1 AC coach after the train departed from Anakapalle, where it had arrived four hours late. Sparks and flames were reportedly seen near Narsinghbali.
Firefighting teams from Anakapalle, Yalamanchili, and Nakkapalli worked for hours to control the blaze. Despite their efforts, both coaches were completely burnt, along with passengers’ belongings inside them.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
