Eight Passengers Injured in Fire Accident on Darbhanga-Bound Humsafar Express

Police – Accident – Death – Obituary News : Massive Fire Engulfs Coaches of Humsafar Express in Etawah District, Lucknow

Lucknow: In a terrifying incident, a massive fire broke out on the Darbhanga-bound (02570) Humsafar Express, engulfing four coaches, including the S1 coach, on Monday evening. The incident took place when the train was passing through Sarai Bhupat railway station in Etawah district. The train, which was packed with passengers returning home to attend Chhath Puja, came to a halt after the fire started at around 5:25pm.

Passengers in the affected coach were screaming for help and waving from the windows as the coach filled with smoke. Nagendra Yadav Singh, the deputy station superintendent of Sarai Bhupat railway station, spotted the smoke coming from beneath the LHB sleeper coach while signaling the express for a clear route ahead. He immediately informed the onboard train staff, including the guard and loco pilots, to halt the train. The train guard applied the emergency brakes, and the power supply was also cut off.

As soon as the train came to a standstill, passengers started jumping out of the sleeper coach to save themselves. By 5:47pm, the fire brigade arrived at the scene and began extinguishing the flames. Four ambulances also reached the spot at 5:55pm to transport the injured passengers to the district hospital.

One of the injured passengers, Tilu Mukhiya, recounted the terrifying experience, saying, “There was an explosion, and the entire coach was filled with smoke. As soon as the train halted, all passengers started jumping out of the coach.”

The district magistrate of Etawah, Avanish Kumar Rai, confirmed that eight passengers suffered minor burn injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the district hospital. After a preliminary check, the Humsafar Express, with the unaffected coaches, resumed its journey to Darbhanga. The injured passengers have been identified as Kanchan, Harendra, Akriti, Manoj Chapal, Raunak Raj, Dayanand, and Sunita Devi. All of them hail from the Darbhanga district of Bihar.

An official from the Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO) stated, “There is nothing beneath the LHB sleeper coach that could cause an explosion and lead to smoke and fire. The cause of the fire can only be established after a thorough investigation.”

Himanshu Shekhar Upadhya, the Chief Public Relation Officer of the North Central Railway zone, expressed relief that there were no casualties in the incident. He assured that a detailed investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the fire.

This unfortunate incident has raised concerns about the safety measures and maintenance protocols of Indian railways. The authorities must prioritize the well-being of passengers and take necessary steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

The railway department has urged passengers and the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or potential hazards to ensure the safety and security of everyone traveling on Indian railways..