Ernakulam Express fire accident near Elamanchili, one dies

Ernakulam Express fire accident | Hyderabad, Dec. 29: An Ernakulam Express fire accident near Elamanchili railway station late at night caused panic among passengers and led to the death of one elderly traveller, railway officials confirmed.

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The Tata Nagar to Ernakulam Express train number 18189 caught fire around midnight while passing near Elamanchili.

Flames first broke out in the B1 AC coach and soon spread to the adjacent M2 coach. Loco pilots noticed the fire and immediately halted the train at Elamanchili station.

As a result, passengers rushed out of the coaches in fear.

Fire officials rushed to the spot with four fire engines and brought the blaze under control. However, by the time firefighters extinguished the flames, two coaches were completely gutted.

At the time of the Ernakulam Express fire accident, nearly 2,000 passengers were travelling on the train. Many of them spent hours on the platform amid cold weather conditions.

Railway authorities removed the burnt coaches after dousing the fire. They then accommodated passengers in the remaining coaches and made arrangements to send the train forward.

Meanwhile, officials ensured medical support and basic amenities at the station. Therefore, no further injuries were reported immediately after the incident.

Ernakulam Express fire accident triggers rail disruption

The fire accident disrupted rail traffic on the Visakhapatnam Vijayawada section. Several trains were halted at Anakapalli, Tuni, and Visakhapatnam stations.

Officials worked through the night to restore normal operations. Consequently, delays affected multiple long distance services on the busy route.

Vijayawada Divisional Railway Manager Mohith reached the accident site and began an inquiry. He confirmed that one passenger died in the incident.

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Officials identified the deceased as Chandrasekhar, a 70 year old resident of Visakhapatnam. According to preliminary findings, the passenger was trapped inside the B1 coach and died due to severe burns.

Railway officials said the fire appears to have originated inside the B1 AC coach. They explained that bedding materials in air conditioned coaches can catch fire quickly.

Therefore, flames spread rapidly to the adjacent coach. However, they said quick action by train staff helped prevent a larger tragedy.

Officials stated that teams are checking whether any other passengers remain trapped inside the burnt coaches. They said early separation of unaffected coaches limited the damage. Otherwise, officials warned, the incident could have resulted in heavy loss of life.

Railway authorities have ordered a detailed investigation into the Ernakulam Express fire accident. They will examine electrical systems, onboard materials, and maintenance records.

Meanwhile, officials assured passengers that safety remains a priority.

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The tragic incident has raised concerns over fire safety in long distance trains. Authorities said they will review existing safety measures and take steps to prevent similar accidents in the future.

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