Massive fire breaks out in Delhi bound Rajdhani Express at Kota; all passengers safe
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Kota: A massive blaze tore through an air conditioned coach of the 12431 Rajdhani Express bound for New Delhi early on Sunday, but all 68 passengers aboard the coach were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported, railway officials said.
The fire erupted at around 5:15 a.m. in coach B 1 near Vikramgarh Alot station in Kota. Railway Protection Force personnel, onboard staff and other officials promptly evacuated the coach in about 15 minutes and moved passengers from adjacent coaches as a precaution.
Relief and rescue teams from the Kota Railway Division reached the site soon after the incident. Officials detached the affected coach from the rake and switched off the overhead electric supply (OHE) to ensure safety. Deboarded passengers were accommodated in other coaches to continue the journey to Kota.
Divisional Railway Manager of the Kota Division confirmed: “All passengers reported safe. No casualties reported.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Emergency contact numbers for the Luni Richha–Vikramgarh Alot section have been issued: Kota Enquiry: 6375898943, At Site: 09256099269.
The 12431 Rajdhani left Thiruvananthapuram on Friday and was scheduled to reach Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. The incident follows a similar fire on May 15 in two AC coaches of the Hyderabad Jaipur Special Express at Nampally station.
(Inputs from IANS)