Chennai, 17 February (H.S.) : A major fire emergency involving the New Delhi-Chennai Grand Trunk Express caused panic among passengers in Maharashtra's Wardha district on Tuesday morning. However, a potential disaster was averted through the timely intervention of railway staff.

According to officials, there were no casualties or injuries as the train, numbered 12616, was halted promptly after smoke was detected. The incident occurred while the Chennai-bound express was traveling between Nagpur and Sindi railway stations, approximately 75 kilometers from Nagpur.

Central Railway spokesperson Sanjay Muley confirmed that smoke was first spotted in the rear SLR (Seating-cum-Luggage Rack) guard coach at 11:09 am. In response to the emergency, the train was immediately stopped on the Sindi-Tuljapur section. To ensure the safety of the hundreds of passengers heading toward the city, the affected coach was detached from the main rake before the fire could spread.

Firefighting units were called to the spot to extinguish the blaze, which had reportedly gutted the interior of the guard compartment. All passengers on the train were reported safe and were evacuated from the vicinity of the burning coach as a precautionary measure.

Authorities have ordered a high-level investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire, with preliminary suspicions pointing toward a short circuit. After a delay of several hours and the successful removal of the damaged coach, the GT Express resumed its journey toward its final destination at Tambaram. Railway officials in Chennai are closely monitoring the situation as the train makes its way to the city.

This incident serves as a critical reminder of the necessity for stringent fire safety protocols and rapid emergency response systems within the national rail network to protect long-distance travelers.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary