As many as nine people were killed and over 20 got injured after fire broke out inside a stationary train compartment at the Madurai station in Tamil Nadu on Saturday.
According to the Southern Railways, it was the gas cylinder ‘illegally’ taken inside the coach that lead the mishap.
The passengers in the ‘private party coach’ embarked on the pilgrimage to Rameswaram from Lucknow last week. Most of the passengers hailed from Uttar Pradesh and its nearby areas.
President Draupadi Murmu expressed grief over the incident. “Deeply pained to learn about the tragic loss of lives in a fire accident in a stationary train near Madurai junction, Tamil Nadu. I express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” tweeted Murmu.
Meanwhile, TN Minister Ma Subramanian said that four out of the nine people died in the incident have been identified. "The injured in the accident are being treated. After the postmortem, the bodies will be sent to their hometown. We are talking to the Uttar Pradesh government," Subramanian told reporters.
The private agent, who had booked the train through IRCTC is absconding, said Aditya Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of the North Eastern Railway, Lucknow Division.
Reportedly, only after a locked door was broken open people could run to safety.
Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi condoled the deaths and wished for the safety and speedy recovery of injured.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condoled the deaths. Stalin announced an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh to kin of the deceased, while Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia was announced by UP CM. Railways has announced Rs 10 lakh cash relief to families of victims.
Meanwhile, Congress questioned the lapses in the railway security. “Questions are being raised on railway security. We hope that the railway ministry will answer and deliver on the security of passengers,” Congress leader Pawan Khera told PTI.
The incident took place around 5: 15 am. “This is a private party coach that was attached at Nagercoil Junction yesterday (Aug 25) by train no. 16730 (Punalur-Madurai Exp). Party coach was detached and kept at Madurai Stabling line. The passengers in the private party coach have....smuggled gas cylinder and this has caused the fire,” read the release issued by the Southern Railway.
The party coach had started the journey from Lucknow on August 17, scheduled to return to Chennai on Sunday and proceed to the UP capital from there on, it added.
"While the coach was stabled/parked, some members of the party in the private party coach were using the illegally smuggled cooking gas cylinder unauthorisedly for preparing tea/snacks, which caused the fire in the stabled/parked coach. Most of the passengers could get out of the coach on noticing fire. Some passengers had already got down at platform also before detachment of coach," it added.
LPG cylinder, utensils, wooden logs and a bag of potatoes was found from the spot of the incident.
Adityanath also said that instructions have been given to authorities to ensure that the injured receive proper treatment. A toll-free number 1070 has also been issued for quick assistance, he said. The Uttar Pradesh also mentioned 9454441081 and 9454441075 as helpline numbers.
Southern Railway also announced two help line numbers for information related to the fire incident and causalities-- 9360552608, 8015681915.
(With PTI inputs)