Southern Railways has launched a probe into the train coach fire incident in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, that has claimed nine lives. According to a statement released by the Railways, statutory inquiry will be held on Sunday under Southern Circle Railway Safety Commissioner.
"A.M Chowdhary, Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bengaluru, A.M. Chowdhary, will hold Statutory Inquiry into "incident of Fire at about 05.15 hrs...involving IRCTC Tourist Coach (NE Railway-NE-CN113210) stabled in Madurai Railway Station Yard," said B. Guganesan, chief public relations officer of Southern Railway in a statement.
The inquiry will be done to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
Officials also urged the public to share any information relating to the incident. "Any member of the public having knowledge relating to the incident and matter connected therewith and desiring to give evidence may do so at the DRM's Conference Hall, Divisional Railway Manager's Office Complex, Madurai on 27th August 2023 or write to the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, 2," read the statement.
Fire broke out inside a stationary train compartment at the Madurai station in Tamil Nadu on Saturday. The death toll of the tragic incident stood at nine while over 20 got injured.
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.
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.
Earlier, an ‘illegally’ taken gas cylinder was cited the reason behind the mishap. "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," read the release issued by Railways on Saturday.
