Massive Fire erupts in stationary coach at Madurai yard, at least 10 killed, many injured

A fire broke out in the #tourist coach booked from Lucknow to Rameswaram in the early hours of today morning (August 26). The coach was parked in a yard line at a distance of about 1 km from Madurai railway station.

According to preliminary information, the fire started because the devotees in this train were cooking using a gas cylinder. The passengers screamed and got out of the train after the fire. However, some passengers reportedly died in the fire. According to reports, 9 passengers from Uttar Pradesh have died so far.

“It was not a #BharatGaurav train or coach, as an message viral on social media.” The details of its attachments in different trains are as under-

At least 10 persons died after a #fire that broke out inside a stationary coach in #Madurai railway yard on Saturday morning. #SouthernRailway said that an “illegal gas cylinder” caused the fire. An ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh has been announced to the families of deceased as reported by PTI. DM/Madurai MS Sangeetha told to the media persons that 55 people have been rescued.

“On Saturday early morning at 5:30 am there was a fire accident in the coach which was halted here at Madurai railway station. They were pilgrims and were travelling from Uttar Pradesh. Today morning when they tried to make coffee and tried to lit the gas stove, there was a cylinder blast. 55 people have been rescued and as of now, we have retrieved nine bodies. Rescue operation is underway…,” she told reporters.

As per the #SouthernRailway release, the fire broke out at 5.15 am on Saturday morning and the Fire service personnel who arrived at the spot half an hour later put down the blaze by 7.15 am.

The #SouthernRailway has also issued helpline numbers: 9360552608, 8015681915 to share the information related to the fire incident and causalities.

In a statement issued by the #SouthernRailways, it said, “This is a private party coach that was attached at Nagercoil Junction yesterday (Aug 25) by train no. 16730 (Punalur-Madurai Exp). Party coach was detached and kept at Madurai Stabling line. The passengers in the private party coach have illegally smuggled gas cylinder and this has caused the fire. Many passengers had got out of the coach on noticing fire. Some passengers had got down at platform itself,” the release said.

“The private party coach had started their journey from Lucknow on 17th August. They are scheduled to return to Chennai tomorrow by Train no. 16824 Kollam Chennai Egmore Ananthapuri express. And return to Lucknow from there. Any individual can book party coach using IRCTC portal. They are not allowed to carry any inflammable material like gas cylinder. The coach is to used only for transportation purpose”, the statement read.