n a tragic incident, fire broke out on the Tatanagar–Ernakulam Express in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district, killing one passenger and leaving several others injured after two air-conditioned coaches were engulfed in flames.
The incident occurred at around 12:45 a.m. near Elamanchili railway station, approximately 66 km from Visakhapatnam, while the long-distance train was en route from Tatanagar to Ernakulam. Flames were first reported in the B1 coach and quickly spread to the adjacent M1 and B2 coaches, both of which were located near the pantry car and were completely gutted by the blaze.
Senior police and railway officials were notified immediately, prompting the train to be halted and passengers in unaffected coaches to be evacuated. Fire service personnel were deployed to the scene and succeeded in bringing the fire under control after several hours of efforts.
According to authorities, more than 150 passengers were travelling in the two affected coaches when the fire broke out. “Unfortunately, a dead body was found in the B1 coach,” an official told media. The deceased has been identified as 70-year-old Chandrasekhar Sundaram, a resident of Vijayawada.
Preliminary reports indicate that the blaze did not originate from the electrical panel side of the coach as is common in such incidents, but from the linen storage area, according to a press release from the Vijayawada Division of the South Central Railway. Further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire.
A senior railway spokesperson said in an official statement: “Railway staff acted swiftly and immediately informed the fire brigade. The affected coaches were promptly detached, and passengers assisted in deboarding the train.”
Train services on the Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada route were temporarily disrupted due to the incident, with replacement buses arranged to transport affected passengers to their destinations. Forensic teams have been deployed to conduct a detailed probe into the circumstances that led to the fire.
Authorities have also set up helpline numbers to provide assistance and information to passengers and their families.
