A fire erupted on Wednesday evening in the New Delhi-Darbhanga Special Express train near Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the damage of three coaches and injuries to eight passengers, as reported by officials.
The cause of the fire, which began around 5:30 pm, remains unknown at this time. Witnesses observed plumes of black smoke billowing out from the affected coaches. While one coach was completely gutted by the fire, two adjacent coaches suffered partial damage, and a fourth coach was filled with smoke. Authorities promptly detached all four coaches from the train.
Several passengers lost their belongings in the incident, with Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner Naveen Kumar confirming that eight individuals, including four from Bihar, sustained injuries. The injured passengers were promptly admitted to the Etawah district hospital, and details regarding the nature of their injuries are currently being ascertained.
Etawah Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjai Kumar initially reported that four individuals suffered minor injuries, and according to preliminary information, these injuries were not burns. Fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the scene once authorities were alerted to the incident.
Himanshu Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of North Central Railways, highlighted the vigilance of railway officials, emphasizing that the train was swiftly stopped, and all passengers were evacuated, averting a potentially more significant tragedy.
In response to the incident, the Railways made arrangements to accommodate affected passengers in the remaining coaches of the train. Once the train reaches Kanpur, additional coaches will be added to ensure a comfortable journey for passengers.
The New Delhi-Darbhanga Special Express departed for Kanpur from Etawah at 8:18 pm after the necessary precautions and evacuations were carried out. Authorities are conducting investigations to determine the cause of the fire and prevent similar incidents in the future.
