Madurai Train Fire — 'Doors Locked, People Stuck Inside': Passengers Recall Tamil Nadu Railway Station Horror

The passengers who escaped from the mishap recalled how they ran in no time and broke open the train door to save their lives. 

Nine persons died and 20 others suffered injuries after a fire broke out in a compartment of a stationed train at Madurai railway station on Saturday. The fire started after a gas cylinder allegedly smuggled by the passengers into the train burst while they attempted to make coffee in the morning. The district authorities, police and rescue personnel, however, were able to rescue 55 other passengers from the compartment. The passengers reportedly ran for their lives after learning about the fire. 

On how the accident took place on Saturday, Madurai District Collector MS Sangeetha told ANI, "Today early morning at 5:30 am there was a fire accident in the coach which was halted here at Madurai railway station...They were pilgrims and were travelling from Uttar Pradesh.”

“This morning when they tried to make coffee and tried to lit the gas stove, there was a cylinder blast. 55 people have been rescued and as of now, we have retrieved nine bodies...Rescue operation is underway," she said.

The passengers who escaped from the mishap recalled how they ran in no time and broke open the train door to save their lives. 

Madurai Train Passengers Recall Horror

Rekha, one of the passengers who escaped with injuries said, "I was lying on the middle seat and heard about fire...All of us ran in no time and reached the window but it was locked. Then we somehow opened it. Those who were at the back ran and the ones who were sitting at the front got stuck." 

Another passenger said that they found a pair of pliers and broke the door to escape the fire during the accident. The passengers also had to rush leaving their belongings behind on the train. 

The passenger, Ashok Kumar said, "We were sleeping only and suddenly the fire broke out and the doors were locked on all sides and windows were closed. We were not able to find the keys and then we found a pair of pliers and broke the door.”

“Some were able to escape, rest were stuck. We left our luggage and belongings there (on the train)," he said.