Sasaram: A major fire scare disrupted rail movement at Bihar’s Sasaram Railway Station on Monday morning after flames erupted in a passenger train bound for Patna, causing panic among commuters and railway staff.
The incident was reported around 6 am on the busy Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay–Gaya route when smoke was seen rising from one of the coaches shortly after the train was stationed for departure.
Passengers onboard rushed out in fear as the fire spread rapidly through the affected compartment, creating chaotic scenes on the platform.
Railway personnel and security staff immediately launched evacuation efforts while local responders moved in to contain the blaze.
After sustained firefighting efforts, officials succeeded in bringing the fire under control before it could spread further across the train.
The damaged coach was later separated from the rake for safety checks and technical inspection.
Officials confirmed that the compartment was extensively destroyed in the incident, though no injuries or casualties were reported.
Railway Protection Force Inspector Sanjeev Kumar said preliminary findings point to a possible electrical short circuit, though a detailed inquiry has been initiated to determine the exact cause.
The incident triggered criticism from passengers and local residents, many of whom alleged serious shortcomings in emergency response systems at the station.
Several eyewitnesses claimed the initial response was delayed due to a lack of immediate access to water and ineffective firefighting equipment.
Some residents alleged that refill pipelines at the station were dry and that multiple extinguishers either malfunctioned or lacked pressure when urgently needed.
They argued that quicker action with proper equipment could have reduced the extent of damage to the coach.
Railway authorities have not officially commented on those allegations but said all operational and safety arrangements are being reviewed as part of the investigation.
The fire also caused temporary disruption to train movement on the section as officials inspected nearby tracks and cleared the affected coach.
Normal services resumed later after railway engineers declared the route safe for operation.
The incident has once again raised concerns about onboard fire preparedness and maintenance standards on passenger trains operating across key railway corridors.
