At least four people lost their lives in a tragic incident when a fire erupted inside a stationary train compartment at Madurai railway station in the early hours of Saturday. Southern Railway officials have attributed the blaze to an illegal gas cylinder and have announced an ex-gratia amount of ₹10 lakh for the bereaved families.
Fire service personnel arrived at the scene approximately thirty minutes later and managed to extinguish the flames by 7:15 a.m., according to the Southern Railway. It has been revealed that the passengers, who had reportedly traveled from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, in a private party coach, had illegally brought a gas cylinder on board, which ultimately caused the fire. Many passengers were able to escape from the coach upon noticing the flames, while some had already disembarked at the platform itself.
The incident involved a private party coach that was attached to Train No. 16730 (Punalur-Madurai Exp) at Nagercoil Junction on August 25. Subsequently, the coach was detached and parked at the Madurai Stabling line. The passengers in the private party coach had illicitly smuggled the gas cylinder, leading to the unfortunate fire.
It has been discovered that the journey in the party coach had originated from Lucknow on August 17, with the passengers scheduled to return to Chennai the following day before ultimately making their way back to Lucknow. Upon investigation, the accident site was found to contain scattered items, including a cylinder and a bag of potatoes, indicating attempts to prepare food during the journey.
Booking a party coach via the IRCTC portal is permissible for individuals; however, carrying inflammable items like gas cylinders is strictly prohibited. The Southern Railway release emphasized that the coaches are solely intended for transportation purposes, and senior officials are on their way to the scene to assess the situation.
This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to safety regulations within the railway system. While investigations are still underway, it is crucial for passengers and authorities alike to remain vigilant and ensure compliance with all safety protocols. This tragedy has highlighted the consequences and dangers associated with violating established rules.
