Eight trains were diverted after a fire broke out in the engine and coaches of the Karmabhoomi Express in Patiala district.
A fire broke out in the engine and coaches of the Karmabhoomi Express in Punjab's Patiala district on Friday afternoon. The train, number 12508, was travelling from Amritsar to New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal when the incident occurred near Sarai Banjara village around 1.30 pm, according to reports from The Indian Express, Bhaskar English and Urban Acres.
The fire, which reportedly started in a general coach or the engine, spread to four coaches. Three coaches were completely gutted, and luggage in the affected coaches was damaged. Around 1,500 passengers were on board the train at the time of the incident.
As the fire spread, some passengers jumped from the moving train in panic, with 2-3 people sustaining minor injuries. Railway officials said the loco pilot and guard detached the affected coaches to prevent further spread. All passengers were evacuated and transported to Ambala, where arrangements were made for them to continue their journey on alternative trains.
Ambala Division Railway Manager Vinod Bhatia said railway safety mechanisms were activated and a forensic investigation has been initiated to establish the cause of the fire. The Government Railway Police suggested a short circuit in a coach fan may have caused the blaze.
Eight trains have been diverted due to operational reasons, according to Northern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay. Rail traffic on both sides of the track was halted as a precaution while efforts continue to remove the damaged coaches and restore normal services.
