Andhra Pradesh: A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours of Monday when a fire broke out on the Tatanagar–Ernakulam Express in Andhra Pradesh, claiming the life of one passenger. The blaze affected two coaches of the train near Yalamanchili, located about 66 kilometres from Visakhapatnam, according to police officials.
Authorities received an alert about the incident around 12.45 am. By the time emergency teams reached the spot, flames had already engulfed parts of the affected compartments. Police officials said one of the coaches had 82 passengers on board, while the second carried 76 passengers at the time of the incident.
During a search operation inside the damaged coaches, officials discovered the body of a passenger in the B1 coach. The deceased was later identified as Chandersekhar Sundaram. No other fatalities were reported, though the incident caused panic among passengers.
Railway authorities acted swiftly to prevent the situation from worsening. The two fire-damaged coaches, along with an additional AC III Tier coach as a safety measure, were detached from the train. The remaining coaches continued their journey towards Ernakulam after clearance.
In a statement, the South Central Railway confirmed that coaches B1 and M2 of Train No. 18189 were involved in the fire. Railway staff immediately alerted the fire brigade and assisted passengers in safely getting down from the train. Firefighters later brought the blaze under control.
Arrangements have been made to ensure minimal inconvenience to passengers. Those travelling in the affected coaches are being transported by buses to Samalkot railway station, where replacement coaches are being attached to the train. The journey is expected to resume once the new coaches are integrated.
Meanwhile, two forensic teams have begun an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Senior officials from the South Central Railway, including the Commissioner of Railway Safety, have reached the site along with medical and emergency response teams to review the situation and assess safety measures.
The railway authorities have also set up helpline numbers to assist passengers and provide updates on train operations, stating that all necessary steps are being taken in coordination with the local administration.
