Karmabhoomi Express fire sparks panic, passengers injured; 8 trains diverted amid festive rush
Karmabhoomi Express fire sparks panic. (Image courtesy: X/@airnewsalerts)
New Delhi: Four coaches of the Karmabhoomi Express caught fire near Sarai Banjara railway station in Punjab’s Patiala district on Friday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of around 1,500 passengers. Flames and thick smoke were seen rising from the train as railway personnel, firefighters and local residents rushed to carry out rescue operations.
The incident occurred around 1.30pm near Sarai Banjara village, approximately 15km from Rajpura. The train, number 12508, was travelling from Amritsar to New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal when a fire was first noticed in the fifth coach from the engine. The flames subsequently spread to three other coaches.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, although a short circuit is suspected. Railway authorities have started a forensic investigation to establish how the blaze started. Images of the site revealed that several coaches had caught fire and that smoke was billowing into the sky.
The railway authorities quickly halted the train and separated the burning coach from the other coaches. Passengers were evacuated, although two to three people reportedly sustained minor injuries after attempting to jump from the moving train in panic. No deaths have been reported so far.
Local villagers also joined the rescue operation before fire brigade teams arrived. The Patiala deputy commissioner, Himanshu Aggarwaland SSP, Harmandeep Hans, reached the site. A medical team was deployed at Sarai Banjara railway station to examine the evacuated passengers.
Passengers were subsequently taken to Ambala and accommodated on another train to continue their journey. Railway authorities halted traffic on both sides of the affected section while arrangements were made to remove the damaged coaches.
Eight trains diverted
The incident also disrupted rail traffic during festive week, prompting Northern Railway to divert eight trains for operational reasons. The chief public relations officer, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, provided details of the affected services, the Indian Express reported.
The diverted trains included the Amritsar to Delhi Junction, Amritsar to Jaynagar, Amritsar to Tatanagar, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Dr Ambedkar Nagar and Amritsar to Jaynagar services. The Kolkata Terminal to Amb Andaura, Katihar to Amritsar and Ambala Cantt to Kartoli trains were also diverted.
The alternative routes included sections through Sirhind, New Morinda, Chandigarh, Ambala Cantt, Sanahwal and Lal Kalan. Railway officials were working to clear the affected track and restore normal train operations.
More details are awaited.
