Panic ensued among passengers on the Amritsar-bound Karmabhoomi Express when a fire erupted in four general coaches of the train close to Rajpura in Patiala district on Friday. All passengers were safely evacuated from the train, and initial reports indicate no casualties or injuries.
The incident occurred shortly after the train, identified as No. 12508 (Amritsar–New Jalpaiguri Karmabhoomi Express), departed from Sadhugarh railway station in Fatehgarh Sahib at approximately 12:58 pm. The fire is understood to have originated and rapidly spread to the fifth coach from the engine, identified as coach No. 265287GS, enveloping the affected compartments in thick smoke and flames. Passengers, upon noticing the blaze, quickly exited their coaches to escape the danger.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that upon receiving an alert, railway authorities, along with police personnel and fire brigade teams, were promptly dispatched to the scene. Emergency response operations, including firefighting and passenger evacuation, were immediately initiated to manage the situation.
To bolster the emergency response efforts, a medical relief train equipped with Accident Relief Medical Equipment (ARME) was dispatched from Ambala at 1:20 pm. The presence of this specialized train underscored the seriousness of the situation and the readiness of railway services to provide immediate medical assistance if required.
The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) from Ambala, Vinod Kumar Bhatia, arrived at the incident site to personally oversee the ongoing operations and assess the unfolding scenario. He confirmed to reporters that no injuries or fatalities had been reported up to that point. Railway officials have commenced an investigation into the precise cause of the fire, which remains undetermined at this time.
The Karmabhoomi Express is a popular long-distance train connecting New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal to Amritsar in Punjab. Incidents of fire on moving trains, though infrequent, invariably cause significant concern among passengers and authorities due to the potential for mass casualties. The swift evacuation and the absence of injuries in this particular event are attributed to the timely response of the railway staff and emergency services.
Train services on the affected route experienced disruptions following the incident. Railway authorities worked to clear the tracks and restore normal operations as quickly as possible, while investigations into the fire’s origin continued. The incident highlights the critical importance of regular safety checks and emergency preparedness protocols for railway operations across the country.
The cause of the fire will be determined after a thorough inspection of the affected coaches and a review of the train’s operational logs. Railway officials are expected to provide further updates as the investigation progresses. Safety audits and preventative maintenance measures are crucial to averting such incidents in the future and ensuring the well-being of millions of passengers who rely on the Indian Railways daily.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
