Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi luggage compartment caught fire on Saturday (March 20) morning at Ghaziabad railway station. The authorities are yet to ascertain the cause of the fire. No injury or casualty has been reported so far.
The incident comes a week after a massive fire broke out in Delhi-Dehradun Shatabdi Express, near the Kansro area due to a short circuit.
“About 7 am today, generator & luggage compartment of Shatabdi Express caught fire. It was immediately separated from the train. 4 fire tenders doused fire after breaking the window. No casuality, reason unknown on what caused fire, probe underway,” said Sushil Kumar, Chief Fire Officer.
“Luggage is being unloaded to control the fire, otherwise, it is getting difficult to douse it. Once it’s taken down completely, belongings will be seized and sent for a forensic inquiry to find out what caused the fire,” said Ashutosh Gangal, General Manager Northern Railway.
Additionally, earlier this month, nine people lost their lives, which included rail staffers and fire officials in a fire that broke out on the 13th floor of the Eastern Railway’s office in Kolkata.
Following the repetitive incidents of fire in trains and railway premises, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had ordered the officials to concentrate on preventive measures for fire hazards, identify breaches in fire safety and ensure general alertness for passengers smoking on board.
“Safety remains the focus area of Railway operations and no one should let the guard down on that front. A thorough review and rechecking of all safety measures in the running of trains needs to be taken up by all concerned,” the minister said at a review meeting.
