Tragedy struck in the early hours of Saturday when a fire broke out inside a stationary train compartment at Madurai railway station, resulting in the loss of at least 10 lives. The victims were pilgrims traveling from Uttar Pradesh. The Southern Railway has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased to assist them during this difficult time.
Madurai District Collector MS Sangeetha provided details about the incident, stating that the fire occurred at around 5:30 am when the passengers attempted to make coffee and ignite a gas stove. Unfortunately, a gas cylinder blast occurred, leading to the devastating fire. Authorities were able to rescue 55 people, while nine bodies have been recovered so far. The rescue operation is ongoing to ensure the safety of any remaining passengers.
The Southern Railway has established helpline numbers, 9360552608 and 8015681915, to facilitate the sharing of information related to the fire incident and the casualties.
Investigations have revealed that the fire was triggered by an illegally smuggled gas cylinder inside a private party coach. According to the Southern Railways Chief Public Relations Officer B Guganesan, the fire broke out at 5:15 am in the coach located at the Madurai yard. The blaze was eventually extinguished by 7:15 am.
The Railways clarified that the passengers in the private party coach had brought in gas cylinders illegally, which led to the ignition. Passengers who noticed the fire quickly evacuated the coach, with some getting off at the platform itself.
The party coach, which was on its journey from Lucknow since August 17, had illegally smuggled gas cylinders despite regulations against inflammable materials. The coach, which is typically used for transportation purposes, was set to return to Chennai and eventually to Lucknow.
The tragic incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of adhering to safety regulations and avoiding the use of illegal or inflammable materials during travel.
