Fire in Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express in Andhra Pradesh; one passenger dies, 2 coaches gutted
Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express: A major train accident occurred in Yelamanchili, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday. A fire broke out in the B1 and M2 coaches of the Tata-Ernakulam Express train. Panic ensued among the passengers, but many were safely evacuated in time. The B1 and M2 coaches were completely gutted in the fire. One body has been recovered from the wreckage, while several other passengers narrowly escaped. The fire broke out between 12 midnight and 1 AM.
According to reports, the fire initially started in the B1 coach of the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express and then spread to the M2 coach. Panicked passengers, seeing the flames, pulled the emergency chain and fled the train. Both coaches of the train were destroyed by the fire, along with the passengers' luggage.
The loco pilot immediately stopped the train upon receiving information about the fire. Railway personnel and fire department teams then arrived at the scene and began extinguishing the flames.
One of the affected coaches had 82 passengers and the other had 76
A senior police officer stated that the accident occurred near Yelamanchili. Authorities received information about the fire at 12:45 AM on Monday. The police officer said that at the time of the fire, one of the affected coaches had 82 passengers and the other had 76 passengers. He said, "Unfortunately, one body has been recovered from the B1 coach."
Officials said that according to initial information, both compartments were completely destroyed by the fire. Senior railway officials have reached the spot and are monitoring the entire operation. For safety reasons, both compartments have been detached from the train. A senior official present at the scene said that the fire was very intense. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact number of casualties and identify the cause of the fire.
Prakash Kumar Pandey