13 killed, 4 critical in AP train fire incident

Hyderabad, Aug 1 (UNI) Thirteen people were killed and four others injured when fire engulfed four coaches of Gowtami Express Train, proceeding from Secunderabad to Kakinda, between Tallapusalapalli and Mahaboobabad in Warangal District, about 150 km from the city, late last night.

Railways chief Public Relations Officer P Krishnaiah told newspersons ''the fire broke out in coach S-9 and spread to S 10, 11, 12 and 13.

''So far, 13 bodies were recovered with 11 retrieved from S-10 alone,'' he said.

The injured were shifted to MGM Hospital in Warangal Town where their condition was stated to be critical.

Alerted by the incident, the Railway authorities immediately rushed to the spot with rescue teams.

Four fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames.

To prevent fire from spreading to other coaches, the rest of the bogies were separated from the affected ones. The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.

The stranded passengers were shifted to Kakinada by a special train. The gutted bogies were brought to Warangal Railway Station, Mr Krishnaiah said.

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