Karmabhoomi Express Fire : A fire broke out suddenly aboard the Karmabhoomi Express travelling from Punjab to Bihar on Friday afternoon, triggering panic among passengers. The incident occurred near Sarai Vanjara village, close to Rajpura in Punjab’s Patiala district. Thick smoke rising from the train coaches spread fear among passengers, forcing people to rush outside to save their lives. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far. The fire has been brought under control, and the Railways has ordered a high-level investigation into the incident.

Flames Erupt Near Sarai Vanjara Village
The fire incident came to light on Friday afternoon when the Karmabhoomi Express reached the area near Rajpura. Flames and thick clouds of smoke began rising from the coaches near Sarai Vanjara village. Within a short time, smoke covered the surrounding area. Videos of the incident showed smoke spreading across a large distance. As passengers realised the seriousness of the situation, they began rushing out of the train.

Fire Initially Started In The Pantry
Patiala Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal said preliminary information suggested that the fire had started in the train's pantry. The flames subsequently spread to some other coaches. The administration had received information that several compartments of the train were on fire. However, the actual cause of the incident will be officially confirmed only after the investigation is completed.

Fire Alarm Helped Save Passengers' Lives
According to the Deputy Commissioner, the train's fire alarm went off during the incident, giving passengers an opportunity to take precautions in time. As soon as they heard the alarm, people started getting off the train. This helped prevent a potentially serious situation, and no injuries or casualties have been reported so far. After the fire was extinguished, the situation was brought under control.

Railways Orders High-Level Investigation
Following the incident, the Railways decided to conduct a high-level investigation. The inquiry will examine the cause of the fire and all other possible aspects connected with the incident. At present, it is not clear what triggered the fire or how many coaches were affected. Details about the damage and the incident will become available after the investigation is completed.

Festival Rush Raises Railway Safety Concerns
The number of passengers travelling by train increases significantly during the festive season. A fire aboard a moving train during this busy period has raised concerns about railway safety. However, the timely activation of the fire alarm and the evacuation of passengers reportedly helped prevent a major disaster. Attention will now remain on the railway investigation into passenger safety and the cause of the fire.