One passenger was killed after a fire broke out in two coaches of the Tatanagar–Ernakulam Express in the early hours of Monday in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district. The incident occurred around 1 am near Elamanchili railway station when the locomotive pilot noticed flames emerging from one of the coaches and immediately brought the train to a halt, railway officials confirmed.
According to officials, the fire originated in the B1 sleeper coach and quickly spread to the adjacent B2 coach. Swift action by the train crew helped prevent a larger tragedy, as most passengers were evacuated in time. However, a body was later recovered from one of the charred coaches, confirming one fatality in the incident.
Railway authorities stated that there were 82 passengers travelling in one of the affected coaches and 76 in the other when the fire broke out. As a safety measure, the two fire-hit coaches along with the adjacent M1 coach were immediately detached from the rest of the train. This step helped contain the blaze and prevented it from spreading further to other compartments. Both the B1 and B2 coaches were completely gutted in the fire.
The deceased passenger was identified as Chandrasekhar Sundaram. Officials said all other passengers onboard the train are safe. The incident led to scenes of panic and confusion among travellers, but timely intervention by railway staff ensured that the situation was brought under control.
The train was en route from Tatanagar to Ernakulam in Kerala when the fire was detected. After the damaged coaches were separated, the train resumed its journey with the remaining coaches. Railway authorities arranged alternative travel options for affected passengers to minimise inconvenience.
An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the fire. Railway officials have assured that safety checks are being conducted and that further action will be taken once the probe is completed. The incident has once again raised concerns over train safety and emergency preparedness on long-distance routes operated by Indian Railways.
