The Burning Train
25 June 2020- Ratlam,
Passengers of the Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express had a narrow escape on Monday, when three of its coaches caught fire as the train was passing through Rajasthan.
The driver managed to stop the train in time at Thuria station and passengers of the burning cuaches were helped to safety.
The fire was noticed soon after the train, the Rajdhani Express had passed Alot station at 2.15 a.m.
By the time the train was stopped at Thuria, the flames, which had started from the pantry coach, had spread to the two adjoining AC three-tier coaches -B6 and B7.
The sleeping passengers were promptly woken up and helped to get off the train. No one was injured, but most of the luggage was burnt.
Garima Jindal, a passenger, said, “We were fast asleep when suddenly someone announced that a fire had broken out. Initially, we thought he was joking, but then everybody started running.” “We came out before the fire could spread,” said another passenger. “The driver took the right decision, else the blaze could have been massive.”
Firefighters managed to control the blaze after nearly two hours. The two burnt coaches were detached at Thuria. Railway authorities have announced an ex-gratia of 5,000 to each passenger of the two coaches.