Andhra Pradesh: Fire Breaks Out In Pantry Car Of Navjeevan Express Near Gudur Railway Station

According to preliminary investigation, one of the heaters used for cooking was apparently not turned off that led to the fire. 

Navjeevan Express catches fire near Gudur junction

New Delhi: Fire broke out in the pantry car of Chennai-bound Navjeevan Express near Gudur Railway Station in Andhra Pradesh on Friday. The train was on its way from Ahmedabad to Chennai when the incident took place.

The incident came to light when an alert pointman noticed smoke billowing out of the pantry car as the train approached Gudur railway junction in Tirupati district. The train was immediately stopped at Gudur junction and the railway staff broke the windows of the train from outside and extinguished the fire with the help of fire extinguishers.  

According to preliminary investigation, one of the heaters used for cooking was apparently not turned off that led to the fire. 

"The automatic fire suppression system in the pantry got activated even as three windows were broken to let the smoke out. The AC supply was also cut and the fire put out," South Central Railway Vijayawada division spokesperson Nusrat M Mandrupkar told PTI.

“We were shocked to see the fire in the train; after which we informed the officials. They reacted to it immediately and thus saved a lot of passengers,” a passenger said. No casualties were reported.

After the fire was completely brought under control, the train was sent to Chennai.

Earlier in 2019, a fire broke out in the pantry car of the Yeswantpur-Tatanagar Express at Gollaprolu in East Godavari district, affecting train traffic on the Rajamahendravaram-Visakhapatnam section. However, no casualties were reported.

South Central Railway Vijayawada Division officials stated that the fire was prevented from spreading to other compartments as the pantry car and an adjoining passenger coach were detached within minutes of the incident.