One killed as Tatanagar–Ernakulam Express catches fire in Andhra Pradesh

Guwahati: A 70-year-old man died and several passengers narrowly escaped when a fire broke out in two AC coaches of the Tatanagar–Ernakulam Express (Train No. 18189) at Duvvada in Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh, early Monday morning, police reported.

The train, running from Tatanagar to Ernakulam via Visakhapatnam, caught fire around 1:30 am after crossing Duvvada, with flames affecting the B1 and M2 AC coaches next to the pantry car.

Railway officials said the blaze was first spotted by the loco pilots near a railway point close to Yelamanchili. The train was immediately stopped at the station, but the fire quickly spread and fully gutted the two coaches before fire personnel could arrive.

Thick smoke inside the coaches caused panic among passengers, many of whom scrambled onto the platforms amid poor visibility.

Authorities confirmed that all passengers were safe except for one.

The deceased, Chandrasekhar Sundar (70) from Vijayawada, was trapped in the B1 AC coach and succumbed to burns.

Railway sources noted that sparks and flames may have been triggered by overheating brakes in the B1 AC coach after the train left Anakapalli.

Fire teams from Anakapalli, Elamanchili, and Nakkapalli worked for hours to control the blaze, but all belongings in the two coaches were destroyed.

Senior railway officials visited the site, and ambulances were stationed as a precaution. Passengers had to wait at the station for several hours during the cold night.

Rail traffic on the Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada route was temporarily halted, causing delays for several trains.

After 3:30 am, the burnt coaches were removed, and passengers from the affected coaches were transferred to remaining compartments.

Three APSRTC buses were used to shift passengers to Samarlakota, where two replacement AC coaches were attached, allowing the Tata–Ernakulam Express to continue its journey.

Several trains from Visakhapatnam to Vijayawada faced delays, and operations were temporarily stopped at Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, and Tuni stations.

The railway authorities have ordered a detailed investigation to determine the cause of the fire and identify any possible safety lapses.