Online desk : At least ten individuals lost their lives in a devastating fire that engulfed a stationary train compartment at Madurai railway station in the early hours of Saturday. Southern Railway authorities have pointed to an “illegal gas cylinder” as the source of the blaze. The victims, passengers of a “private party coach” arriving from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, were caught in the inferno. An additional 20 passengers sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital. The Southern Railway has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased.
Efforts by police, fire, and rescue services personnel, along with railway staff, led to the recovery of charred remains from the compartment. The fire, which began at 5:15 am, was brought under control by 7:15 am by fire service personnel. Investigations have revealed that the private party coach, attached to the train from Nagercoil Junction, was illegally carrying a gas cylinder. This dangerous cargo is believed to have triggered the tragic incident.
The ill-fated coach had commenced its journey from Lucknow on August 17 and was scheduled to return to Chennai. While the exact cause is under scrutiny, evidence at the accident site suggests attempts to cook food, as scattered items including a gas cylinder and a bag of potatoes were found. Authorities stress that party coaches are solely meant for transportation and the booking of inflammable materials is strictly prohibited. Senior officials are en route to the scene as the community mourns this heart-wrenching loss.
