Another Train Mishap Averted In Odisha After Fire Breaks Out In AC Coach Of Durg-Puri Express

The brake pads of the Durg-Puri Express caught on fire on Thursday evening, however, no casualties were reported.

Railway officials work on extinguishing fire under the tires at Khariar Road station.

Source : Twitter/@ecor_railfans

Another major tragedy was averted after fire was spotted in the air-conditioned (AC) coach of the Durg-Puri Express on Thursday in Odisha's Nuapada district, which made the passengers panic, according to ANI. However, no casualties were reported from the incident. The incident occurred as the brakes of the B3 coach were reportedly not released after alarm chain pulling (ACP). The brake pads caught fire due to friction after the incomplete release of brakes. After the brakes weren't fully released, friction caused the brake pads to catch fire, officials said. 

The ECoR said in a statement that smoke was detected in the B3 coach of the train as it reached the Khariar Road station Thursday evening.

VIDEO | A fire was spotted in an air-conditioned coach of Durg-Puri Express on Thursday night in Odisha's Nuapada district, leaving passengers scared, the East Coast Railway said. No casualties were reported from the incident. pic.twitter.com/xx3zM3TvFz

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 9, 2023

"In B3 coach of 18426 at Khariar Road station arrival at 22:07 hrs (10:07 pm). The brakes were not released after ACP (alarm chain pulling). The brake pads caught fire due to friction and due to the incomplete release of the brakes. No fire inside the coach. Fire only at brake pads," East Coast Railway said.

The incident created panic among passengers, and most of them rushed out of the train.

The issue was rectified in an hour and the train was up and running within an hour. The officials said that there was no damage reported and the train resumed its journey at 11 pm..

"No other damage. The problem was rectified and the train departed at 23.00 hrs (11:00 pm)," the official said.

The incident occurred just days after one of the worst train tragedies in the country at the Bahanaga Bazar station in Odisha’s Balasore district, which claimed 288 lives and left more than 1,100 people injured after a crash involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train. The train crash, one of the deadliest in India in recent times, happened around 7 pm on Friday (June 2). 

Several coaches of the 12864 Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, on the way to Howrah, derailed and fell on the adjacent track. A goods train was also involved in the accident as some of the coaches of the Coromandel Express, which was heading to Chennai, hit its wagons after getting derailed.