Karmabhoomi Express catches fire in Punjab, 4 coaches affected
More than 1,500 passengers escaped unhurt after a blaze struck the train near Sarai Banjara station.
A fire broke out in the Karmabhoomi Express near the Sarai Banjara railway station in Punjab's Patiala district on Friday, according to The Hindu. The train was moving from Amritsar to New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal when the incident occurred on the Rajpura-Sirhind railway section.
The blaze engulfed three coaches and caused minor damage to a fourth. Ambala Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Vinod Kumar Bhatia said the fire started in one coach but spread to others because of high wind speeds.
No injuries or casualties were reported as more than 1,500 passengers exited the coaches safely. Northern Railway CPRO Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay stated the train stopped safely after its safety system was triggered.
The guard and loco pilot detached the damaged coaches to stop the fire from spreading. Both overhead equipment (OHE) lines were also shut down once the fire was detected.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Ambala Division Yashanjit Singh said the unreserved train's passengers would be moved to another train to reach their destinations. Singh added that the cause of the fire is a matter of inquiry and will be investigated by officials.