Madurai Train Fire: What Led To The Blaze Inside A Stationary Train?

At least 10 people were killed in a fire that broke out inside a stationary train compartment in Madurai railway station in the early hours of Saturday. Preliminary information indicates that the fire originated due to cooking activities involving a gas cylinder by devotees aboard the train.

The train, a private party coach with 65 passengers, had arrived from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. The fire broke out at 5:15 am on Saturday and was brought under control by the fire department after about two hours.

The Southern Railway said that the passengers in the private party coach had smuggled a gas cylinder and this had caused the fire. The party coach had started the journey from Lucknow on August 17 and was scheduled to return to Chennai on Sunday.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it is believed that the gas cylinder may have exploded, causing the fire. The fire spread quickly through the coach, trapping some passengers inside.

The Southern Railway has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased. The railway has also set up two helpline numbers for information related to the fire incident and casualties: 9360552608, 8015681915.