Title - Railways order probe into Gulbarga train fire

The Railways on Tuesday ordered an inquiry into the Gulbarga train fire incident in which two people had died, and also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs.1 lakh to the next of the kin of the dead. Nine other people suffered severe burns when the general coach of the Solapur-bound Falaknuma Express train coming from Hyderabad caught fire during a halt at the Gulbarga Railway station. "An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the fire in the general coach of the Solapur passenger train. The inquiry will be conducted by Commissioner Railway Safety Chetan Baxi and submit the report at the earliest," Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena said. Railways have also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs.75,000 for the seriously injured and Rs.5,000 for those with minor injuries. "The service of fire brigade was immediately pressed to douse the fire which was noticed at around 1 PM in the coach. Senior officials have already rushed to the spot and fire has been extinguished completely by 2.15 p.m.," Saxena said.