Fire in Pandiyan Exp coach, passengers escape miraculously

Tiruchirapalli, Mar 12 (UNI) Passengers of the Madurai-bound superfast Vaigai Express had a miraculous escape after a fire broke out in a luggage-cum-unreserved coach when the train was in motion between Thamaraipadi and Vadamadurai railway stations near Dindigul early this morning.

Railway sources told UNI that the coach, next to the engine was partially gutted in the fire due to suspected short circuit. One of the drivers, after noticing the fire brought the train to a halt.

Fire tenders from Vadamadurai rushed to the spot and put out the fire.

The compartment was detached, the sources said adding that the remaining coaches were brought back to Vadamadurai station. After rearranging the coaches, the train, which suffered a detention for about four hours, left for Madurai at 0840 hrs.

The Chennai-bound Vaigai Express and the Dindigul-Tiruchirapalli passenger were detained at Dindigul for nearly 90 minutes and 160 minutes respectively. Both the trains would leave for their destinations after the Pandiyan Express reached Dindigul, the sources said adding that the train services between Tiruchirapalli Junction and Dindigul was affected.

A report from Madurai said no one was injured in the fire.

Senior Railway officials have rushed to the spot. The cause of the fire was under investigation, the report added.

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