Ranthambore Express sparks scare at Ratlam: 20-minute halt, no injuries
Synopsis
Two smoke emergencies on the same Ratlam stretch in under a month — first the Rajdhani Express in May, now the Ranthambore Express on 18 June. Passengers fled onto adjacent tracks as sparks flew from a rear coach. Railways say the cause may be emergency braking, but a full inquiry is pending.
Key Takeaways
Sparks and smoke were spotted on a general coach of Ranthambore Express (12465) near Luni-Richa station, Ratlam , at around 9:45 am on 18 June .
The loco pilot applied emergency brakes; the train halted for approximately 20 minutes before being cleared to proceed.
Passengers evacuated onto adjacent tracks; no injuries or casualties were reported.
Preliminary findings suggest the smoke may have been caused by the emergency brake application; a detailed inquiry is underway.
A similar incident occurred on 17 May when fire broke out in AC coach B-1 of Rajdhani Express (12431) on the same Ratlam stretch — the second such scare in under a month.
Sparks and smoke billowing from the wheels of a general coach on the Indore-Bhagat Ki Kothi Ranthambore Express (12465) triggered panic among passengers near Luni-Richa station in Ratlam district, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday, 18 June. No injuries or casualties were reported, and the train resumed its journey after a halt of approximately 20 minutes.
How the Incident Unfolded
The scare occurred at around 9:45 am as the express, travelling from Indore to Jodhpur, passed through Luni-Richa — a station where it has no scheduled stop. The loco pilot applied emergency brakes upon noticing the anomaly, after which smoke began billowing from beneath a general coach at the rear of the train.
As the train came to a standstill, passengers scrambled out with their luggage and moved onto adjacent tracks. Videos circulating on social media showed a large number of travellers standing between the rail lines after someone raised an alarm about a possible fire. A separate train was stationed on the parallel track at the time, adding to the tension.
Railway Response and Preliminary Findings
A technical team from the Railways reached the site promptly. After inspection, the train was cleared to proceed. Officials confirmed there was no loss of life or property.
'The exact cause of the smoke is under investigation. Preliminary inputs suggest it may have been caused by the emergency brake application. The actual reason will be confirmed after a detailed inquiry,' a railway official said.
A Troubling Pattern on This Stretch
This is not the first such incident on this corridor. On 17 May, a fire broke out in the AC coach B-1 of the Rajdhani Express (12431) between Luni-Richa and Vikramgarh stations, also in Ratlam district. All passengers were evacuated safely in that incident, and the affected coaches were detached before the train continued. Two smoke-related emergencies on the same stretch within a month raise questions about rolling-stock maintenance and track-side safety protocols in the zone.
Train Details and Current Status
The Ranthambore Express (12465) departs Indore at 6 am and is scheduled to reach Jodhpur at approximately 11 pm. The train was allowed to proceed following the inspection, with a delay of around 20 minutes. Further findings from the technical inquiry are awaited.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Ranthambore Express near Ratlam on 18 June?
Sparks and smoke were seen coming from the wheels of a general coach on the Ranthambore Express (12465) near Luni-Richa station in Ratlam district, Madhya Pradesh, at around 9:45 am on 18 June. The loco pilot applied emergency brakes, passengers evacuated onto adjacent tracks, and the train was held for about 20 minutes before being cleared. No injuries were reported.
What caused the smoke on the Ranthambore Express coach?
Railway officials said preliminary inputs suggest the smoke may have been caused by the emergency brake application. The exact cause is still under investigation, and a detailed technical inquiry is pending.
Was anyone injured in the Ranthambore Express incident?
No. Railway officials confirmed there was no loss of life or property. All passengers were safe, though many had scrambled out of the coach and onto the tracks during the scare.
Has a similar incident happened on this stretch before?
Yes. On 17 May, a fire broke out in AC coach B-1 of the Rajdhani Express (12431) between Luni-Richa and Vikramgarh stations in the same Ratlam district. All passengers were evacuated safely and the affected coaches were detached. The 18 June incident is the second such emergency on this corridor within a month.
What is the Ranthambore Express route and schedule?
The Ranthambore Express (12465) runs from Indore to Jodhpur (Bhagat Ki Kothi), departing Indore at 6 am and arriving in Jodhpur at approximately 11 pm. Luni-Richa is not a scheduled stop on this service.
