9 dead, 20 Injured After Fire Engulfs Train Coach At Madurai Railway Station

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• Aug 26, 2023 | Dhupali Das

At least nine people were killed in a fire that broke out in a stationary train compartment near Madurai railway station in...

Digital Desk: A major fire broke out on a train at Madurai railway station in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, leaving at least nine people dead and 20 others injured. The blaze erupted at approximately 5:15 a.m. within a private party coach that was parked at the Madurai yard. The adjacent coaches remained unscathed as fire tenders rushed to the scene and successfully extinguished the flames by around 7 a.m.

The ill-fated coach was carrying 65 passengers from Lucknow who were en route to Chennai. The devastating incident occurred due to the reported use of illegally smuggled cooking gas cylinders by some passengers to prepare tea and snacks. The resulting explosion led to the tragic loss of lives and injuries among those onboard.

In response to the disaster, the Indian Railways promptly announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased victims. The Madurai District Collector, MS Sangeetha, shared her condolences and offered insights into the incident. "Around 5:30 am today, there was a fire in a coach halted here at Madurai railway station. There were pilgrims travelling from Uttar Pradesh in it. When they lit the gas stove to make coffee, the gas cylinder blasted. As of now, we have retrieved nine bodies," she stated.

The private party coach, operated by Bhasin Tours and Travels based in Sitapur, had initiated its journey from Lucknow on August 17 with the intended destination of Chennai by the upcoming Sunday. Despite mandatory regulations in place, including a written declaration that inflammable articles would not be carried during the journey, the coach was found to have smuggled in a gas cylinder, a stove, and other highly flammable materials, which ultimately led to the catastrophic fire.

Carrying inflammable substances such as gas cylinders, explosives, and other hazardous items aboard trains is strictly prohibited by law. Sections 67, 164, and 165 of the Railways Act of 1989 impose severe penalties for such offenses. According to paragraph 9 of the Railway Manual, private tourist groups are required to provide written assurances that they will not carry any inflammable articles during their journey.

The incident serves as a grim reminder of the potential dangers associated with the illegal possession and use of hazardous materials within confined spaces like train coaches. As the nation mourns the lives lost in this tragedy, authorities are urging strict adherence to safety protocols to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

In response to the calamity, helpline numbers (9360552608, 8015681915) have been established to provide information related to the fire incident and its casualties. Investigations are ongoing to understand the sequence of events more comprehensively and to determine if any further legal actions are warranted against those responsible for the oversight.

Source: India Today