Tragedy Strikes as Fire Erupts in Stalled Train at Madurai Railway Junction
In a tragic incident at Madurai railway junction, an express train became the site of a deadly fire, leaving at least four individuals feared dead. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this point. A young man from Uttar Pradesh, aged 22, sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at GRH (Government Rajaji Hospital). Additionally, six other passengers have been admitted to the Railway Hospital, with their conditions reported as stable. Regrettably, the identities of the nine deceased victims from the incident have yet to be established.
The dreadful event occurred around 5:30 am, when an express train coach came to a halt at Madurai station. This coach carried pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh who were on their journey. Tragedy struck when an attempt to brew coffee led to a gas cylinder explosion, engulfing the compartment in flames. Prompt action resulted in the rescue of 55 passengers, while the remains of nine individuals have been recovered thus far. The ongoing rescue operation aims to ensure the safety of all passengers.
The Southern Railway has responded to the disaster by announcing an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased passengers. The train had come to a stop approximately 1 km away from Madurai station. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire originated due to unauthorized cooking activities involving a gas cylinder within the train. The fire rapidly spread from one compartment to others, leading to a chaotic evacuation.
Madurai District Collector MS Sangeetha provided insight into the incident, stating, “Around 5:30 am today, there was 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.”
Reports confirmed the unfortunate death of six passengers from Uttar Pradesh. According to B Guganesan, Chief Public Relations Officer of the Southern Railway, the fire ignited at 5:15 am in a private party coach within the Madurai yard. The fire service arrived at 5:45 am and successfully extinguished the blaze by 7:15 am, without causing harm to other coaches.
Investigations revealed that the passengers in the private party coach had illegally brought a gas cylinder, which ultimately triggered the fire. Many passengers managed to exit the coach upon noticing the fire, and some disembarked directly at the platform. The fire erupted when a passenger attempted to light a gas stove for making coffee.
The Southern Railway expressed deep condolences by issuing an ex-gratia amount of ₹10 lakh for the deceased passengers’ families. The Madurai District Collector informed that 55 individuals have been rescued thus far.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to safety regulations and refraining from unauthorized activities within train compartments. The Railway authorities have established helpline numbers, 9360552608 and 8015681915, to offer information regarding the incident and its aftermath. The incident highlights the necessity of responsible behavior and adherence to safety guidelines to prevent such unfortunate events in the future.
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