What Sparked the Fire in a TN Goods Train?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Fire broke out in a diesel-laden goods train at Tiruvallur Railway Station.
- Evacuations are ongoing in the surrounding areas for safety.
- Emergency services are on-site to control the fire and ensure public safety.
- Train services to and from Chennai are disrupted.
- Investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident.
Tiruvallur, July 13 (NationPress) Residents are being evacuated from the area surrounding Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur Railway Station after four wagons of a diesel-laden goods train ignited early Sunday morning, causing a significant fuel leak and widespread chaos, confirmed District Collector M. Prathap.
The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m., leading to disruptions in train services to and from Chennai. The Southern Railways have announced the cancellation of eight trains departing from the city, the diversion of five others, and short-termination of eight more.
Emergency response teams rushed to the site as flames engulfed the affected wagons near Tiruvallur Town Railway Station.
District Collector M. Prathap stated, "A goods train transporting diesel from Manali to Jolarpet caught fire near Tiruvallur Town Railway Station, and four wagons are ablaze. To ensure safety, the district administration mobilized all resources and commenced rescue operations promptly."
"The railways have already detached 47 wagons from the main section to prevent the fire from spreading further. Police and district officials have cordoned off the area to prohibit public movement near the danger zone," he added.
Evacuations are currently in progress in the surrounding neighborhoods as a precautionary measure.
"The revenue department and municipal authorities have started evacuating residents from nearby homes, and food has been arranged for those temporarily displaced," Prathap stated.
Over 25 fire tenders from nearby districts, including Kanchipuram, Chengalpet, and Chennai, have been deployed to extinguish the flames.
"Resources from multiple districts have been coordinated. The fire department is actively working to control the blaze, and the situation is now manageable," he remarked.
He further added, "We expect the fire to be entirely extinguished in another hour."
The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and an investigation is underway to ascertain the precise reason behind the derailment and the ignition of the wagons.
Meanwhile, authorities are closely monitoring the area and are working diligently on restoring rail traffic and ensuring public safety.