What Happened to the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express Fire Incident?
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Synopsis
In a shocking incident, a fire on the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express leads to the tragic death of one passenger, while over 150 others narrowly escape. This gripping account details the events surrounding the fire and its impact on train operations.
Key Takeaways
- One passenger deceased in the fire incident.
- Over 150 passengers evacuated safely.
- Two AC compartments destroyed by flames.
- Investigation launched to determine fire cause.
- Train operations affected, with delays reported.
Visakhapatnam, Dec 29 (NationPress) Tragedy struck as a passenger lost their life while over 150 others narrowly escaped when two AC compartments of the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Junction Super-Fast Express caught fire in the early hours of Monday near Visakhapatnam, police reported.
The blaze ignited in the train at Yelamanchili within the Anakapalli district, approximately 66 km from Visakhapatnam.
Upon noticing the inferno in the moving train, a vigilant passenger activated the emergency chain to halt it at Yelamanchili Railway Station and notified railway personnel, who then alerted the fire brigade.
Four fire engines arrived promptly and fought the flames for two hours.
The quick actions of fire services personnel prevented the fire from spreading to nearby compartments and a goods train on an adjacent track.
Both affected compartments were completely devastated by the flames, resulting in passengers losing all their belongings.
Anakapalli district Superintendent of Police Tuhin Sinha informed the media that they received the fire alert at 12:40 a.m.
He stated that the swift response from the fire services helped avert a larger catastrophe. All passengers were successfully evacuated from the damaged compartments.
At the time of the incident, there were 82 passengers in the B-1 coach and 75 in the M-2 coach.
The SP confirmed that a deceased individual was located in the B-1 coach.
The victim has been identified as Chandrsekhar Sundaram (70), a resident of Vijayawada, and his family has been notified, according to police.
The two burnt coaches were detached from the train, which continued to its destination in Ernakulam, where two additional AC coaches were coupled.
Two forensic teams are currently investigating the cause of the fire, as stated by the police official.
The South Central Railway Safety Commissioner also visited the incident site. He, along with the SP, examined the charred compartments.
The fire incident caused disruptions in train operations on that route. Trains like Godavari and Tirupati-Howrah Express heading to Visakhapatnam faced delays.
Trains scheduled to stop at Yelamanchili are currently being redirected to halt at Visakhapatnam.
Trains including Puri-Tirupati, Shalimar-Cherlapalli, Visakhapatnam-Lingampalli, and Visakhapatnam-Guntur have also experienced delays due to this fire incident.
However, trains that were not scheduled to stop at Yelamanchili are running as per their timetable.
Point of View
We remain committed to delivering accurate and unbiased coverage of significant events. The tragic fire incident on the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express highlights the importance of safety measures in public transportation. Our thoughts are with the affected families during this difficult time.
NationPress
29/12/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the fire on the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express?
Two forensic teams are currently investigating the cause of the fire, and findings will be shared once available.
How many passengers were affected by the fire?
A total of 157 passengers were on board the two affected AC compartments, with one passenger tragically losing their life.
What measures are being taken to prevent future incidents?
Authorities are reviewing safety protocols and emergency response measures in light of the incident to enhance passenger safety.
