Title - Train catches fire, none hurt

Several passengers travelling in the Chennai-Alleppey Express had a narrow escape after a fire broke out in one of the coaches transporting electronic goods and threatened to spread to the coaches meant for handicapped citizens and ladies.The train on route 16041 was passing between Erode and Coimbatore when the fire was first noticed at 4.15 am, railway officials said.The train had left Chennai Central at 9.15 pm with 23 coaches. At 4.15 am, about 10 minutes after the train left Erode station, the guard noticed smoke emanating from the luggage coach next to his cabin, which was the last coach.“He immediately alerted the station master at Perunthurai, which was the nearest station, and the train was stopped at the station around 4.30 am,” railway officials said.The fire had by then engulfed the entire coach and even threatened to destroy the next compartment, which was reserved for handicapped persons.“However, our personnel immediately moved the passengers out of the coaches nearby and alerted the fire and rescue services,” railway authorities said.Several fire tenders from Erode, Perunthurai, Madakurichi and Bhavani rushed to the spot and doused the flames. The coaches were badly damaged, but no one was injured.Divisional railway manager Sujatha Jayaraj and senior divisional railway officer K. Yesurathinam, who visited the spot and conducted preliminary inquiries, said that it was not possible to ascertain the cause of the fire immediately.

The railway official also said that approximately 3.9 tonnes of goods were damaged in the fire. The train resumed its journey after the damaged coaches were replaced at 8.30 am.