A major fire in a private train coach parked at Madurai railway station in Tamil Nadu has claimed nine lives on Saturday morning. The fire was caused due to passengers illegally carrying cooking gas cylinder in the compartment. Around 55 people have been rescued so far.
Fire Erupted Around 5:15 AM
The fire erupted around 5:15 AM inside a private compartment parked at the Madurai yard. The coach belonged to a party of 65 passengers who had arrived from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on Friday night via the Punalur-Madurai Express.
The coach was detached from the train and kept at the Madurai Stabling Line when the incident occurred. No other coaches were damaged as fire tenders arrived quickly and doused the flames by 7 AM.
We regret to inform that a fire accident was reported in a private party tourist coach in Madurai yard at 5.15 hrs of today (26th Aug). The fire was put off at 7.15 hrs and Senior railway officials have reached the site pic.twitter.com/cxkoU7i7ry
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) August 26, 2023
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Passengers Cooking with Smuggled Gas Cylinders Caused Fire
According to preliminary investigations by the Railways, some passengers were illegally using smuggled LPG cylinders to prepare tea and snacks inside the parked coach, which led to the fire breaking out.
Many passengers managed to escape the coach after noticing the fire. Some had already gotten down on the platform before the coach was detached.
#TrainAccident | Nine passengers from Lucknow killed as fire guts private party coach at #Madurai railway yard https://t.co/Bv1TXp6npm pic.twitter.com/TsTH164qkU
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) August 26, 2023
#BreakingNews #Madurai a fire broke out in the train, due to which about 10 people are reported dead and more than 20 are injured.
Om Shanti 🙏#TrainAccident #ShivShakti #MotherTeresa #TejRan #MetroInMP pic.twitter.com/rMpzlNHuVo
— INDIA TODAY (@India_To_Today) August 26, 2023
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Nine Charred Bodies Retrieved
At least nine charred bodies have been retrieved from the burnt coach so far, including three women. The deceased were part of a tourist group from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Around 55 people have been rescued safely from the coach. The bodies have been taken to a government hospital in Madurai.
Ex-Gratia of Rs 10 Lakh Announced
Southern Railway has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased. Help lines have also been set up for people to inquire about the incident and casualties. Carrying inflammable materials like gas cylinders is banned on trains under the Railways Act. The group had also submitted a declaration that they would not carry any such items. The fire incident has highlighted the dangers of passengers flouting safety rules and sneaking in prohibited items like cooking gas cylinders on trains.
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Latest Update
The remains of nine pilgrims who perished in a train fire in Madurai on Saturday morning arrived in Chennai earlier today. All of the bodies will soon be airlifted to Lucknow.
VIDEO | Bodies of nine pilgrims who lost their lives in Madurai train fire tragedy on Saturday morning, reached Chennai earlier today. All bodies will be airlifted to Lucknow shortly.
READ: https://t.co/BJh64TGD9x pic.twitter.com/rjCliYuOU2
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 27, 2023
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