On Sunday, October 29, 2023, two coaches of the Patalkot Express train caught fire near Bhandai station between Agra and Jhansi. The train was en route to Firozpur in Punjab. No injuries were reported in the incident
The fire broke out in the third and fourth coaches from the engine around 3.45 pm. The train was immediately stopped and passengers were evacuated. Five fire tenders rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but officials suspect that it may have been caused by a short circuit.
The incident has disrupted train services on the Agra-Jhansi route. Several trains have been delayed or cancelled.
Similar cases
This is the second major train fire in India in recent months. In July, three coaches of the Mumbai-Bandra train caught fire, killing two people and injuring several others.
The government has ordered an inquiry into the latest incident and has directed railway officials to take all steps which are necessary to prevent such incidents from happening in the near future
Possible Reasons for train fires
There are a number of reasons why train fires can occur, including:
Short circuits in electrical wiring
Overheating of engines or bearings
Cooking fires in passenger compartments Sabotage
Safety measures to prevent train fires
Regular inspection and maintenance of trains, including electrical wiring and fire extinguishers.
Installation of smoke detectors and fire alarms in all coaches.
Awareness campaigns for passengers and railway staff on fire safety.
Strict enforcement of safety regulations, such as banning smoking and cooking on trains.
The Railways have a number of measures in place to provide aftercare to passengers affected by train fires.
These measures include:
Providing medical assistance to the injured
Arranging for food and accommodation for the affected passengers
Providing compensation for the loss of luggage and belongings
Helping the passengers to reach their destination
The government should also invest in modern fire fighting equipment and train railway personnel on how to use it effectively.Train fires are a serious safety hazard. The Railways need to take steps to prevent such incidents from happening in the first place. They also need to ensure that adequate aftercare is provided to passengers affected by such incidents
helpline no. For patalkot express
Agra: 0562-2460048, 0562-2421287, Mathura: 0565-2402009, 0565-2402008, Dhailpur: 0562-2420979