UditVani, Jamshedpur : A devastating fire tore through two air-conditioned coaches of the Tata–Ernakulam Express in past mid-night, killing one passenger and injuring several others.
The incident occurred near Yelamanchili in Andhra Pradesh, prompting Indian Railways to order an immediate high-level investigation.
The blaze reportedly broke out around 12.45 am in the train’s B-1 and M-2 AC coaches while the train was en route, approximately 66 Kms from Visakhapatnam. Within minutes, flames engulfed the coaches, filling them with dense smoke and triggering panic among passengers.
Alert loco pilots noticed smoke billowing from the coaches and brought the train to an emergency halt.
Despite their swift action, the fire intensified rapidly, and by the time fire tenders arrived, both coaches had been completely destroyed.
Firefighters battled the blaze for hours, eventually dousing the flames using water cannons.
A charred body was recovered from the B-1 coach, later identified as Chandrashekhar Sundaram.
Nearly two dozen passengers sustained injuries, some due to burns and smoke inhalation, and were shifted to nearby hospitals.
The remaining passengers were evacuated safely amid chaotic scenes at the site.
As a precaution, an additional AC-3 tier coach was detached from the rake.
The burnt coaches were separated, and the rest of the train was allowed to proceed towards Ernakulam after necessary safety checks.
Alternative transport arrangements were made for affected passengers, including bus services to Samalkot railway station.
Senior railway officials, including the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) and the Divisional Railway Manager (Vijayawada Division), rushed to the spot.
A forensic team has been deployed to ascertain the cause of the fire, while Railways has announced a comprehensive review of safety protocols.
Helpline numbers have been issued for passengers and their families, and authorities have urged the people to rely solely on official communication for verified information.
