Emergency measures by railway authorities prevent casualties after blaze erupts in B-1 coach in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam.
RATLAM (Madhya Pradesh): Passengers of the Thiruvananthapuram Central–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express had a narrow escape early Sunday morning after a fire broke out in one of the train’s air-conditioned coaches. Thanks to swift emergency action by railway authorities, all 68 passengers on board the affected coach were evacuated safely, and no casualties or injuries have been reported.
The incident occurred at approximately 5:15 AM within the Kota railway division as the premium train was traversing through the Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh.
According to Sourabh Jain, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, the fire originated in the B-1 coach. Upon detecting the smoke and flames, onboard staff acted immediately to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent compartments.
Swift Evacuation and Emergency Protocols
Speaking to the Press Trust of India (PTI), Kota Railway Public Relations Officer (PRO) Ravindra Lakhara confirmed that standard emergency safety protocols were activated immediately.
“Railway authorities quickly detached the affected B-1 coach from the rest of the train and switched off the overhead electric supply (OHE) as a precautionary measure. All passengers were safely evacuated without any panic,” Lakhara stated.
Following the successful evacuation, the displaced passengers were temporarily accommodated in other coaches of the Rajdhani Express to continue their journey toward Kota. Railway officials confirmed that an additional AC coach would be attached to the train at Kota station to restore its full capacity and ensure comfort for the remainder of the journey to New Delhi.
Investigation Underway
While major standard operating procedures (SOPs) prevented a potential tragedy, the exact cause of the fire remains unknown. The Ministry of Railways has initiated a high-level technical investigation to determine whether a short circuit or an external factor triggered the blaze.
The Thiruvananthapuram–Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express is a vital lifeline for hundreds of passengers, including the global Malayali diaspora and families travelling between Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and the national capital. Normal rail traffic on the route was briefly disrupted but has since been restored.
