A fire broke out in four coaches of the Karmabhoomi Express near Rajpura in Punjab on Friday, November 6, triggering panic among passengers. The incident took place near Sarai Banjara, close to Basantpura railway station. Smoke billowed from the affected coaches, creating a frightening situation for people travelling on the train. As soon as passengers noticed the fire, they rushed out of the coaches to save themselves. The train was stopped following the incident, and rescue teams reached the spot to control the situation.
Fire Reported Around 1:10 PM
The incident involved train number 12508, Karmabhoomi Express, which was travelling towards Amritsar according to the initial report. The fire was reported at around 1:10 PM, approximately 15 kilometres from Rajpura, near Basantpura railway station. The first information suggested that the fire started in the fifth coach from the engine side. The train was subsequently stopped between the Sarhind-Rajpura section near Sarai Banjara. It was later reported to be halted at Basantpura railway station.
Four Coaches Caught Fire
According to the initial information, four coaches of the train came under the impact of the fire. Thick smoke could be seen rising from the train and was reportedly visible from several kilometres away. Passengers were alarmed after noticing smoke coming out of the coaches. Many people quickly got down from the train to move away from the danger. The incident caused considerable panic, particularly because the train was moving when the fire was first noticed.
Loco Pilot’s Quick Action
The loco pilot acted quickly after receiving information about the fire and stopped the train. This helped prevent the situation from becoming more serious. Passengers were evacuated from the affected coaches, while railway staff and rescue teams worked to control the fire. Passengers also responded quickly and moved out before the flames could spread further. Timely action helped avert a potentially major accident.
Train Was Bound for New Jalpaiguri
The Karmabhoomi Express was travelling from Amritsar towards New Jalpaiguri. Following the incident, the train was stopped and passengers were moved to safety. Initial reports about the incident mentioned that some passengers might have been injured. However, subsequent information stated that there were no reports of injuries or casualties. The exact extent of damage to the coaches is yet to be established.
Short Circuit Suspected
A short circuit is being suspected as the possible cause of the fire. However, the exact reason has not yet been confirmed. Rescue teams managed to bring the fire under control, while further details about the incident and damage are awaited. The conflicting initial reports about injuries have also left the exact casualty situation unclear. The incident once again highlighted the importance of quick action during emergencies on moving trains.
