Elamanchili (Andhra Pradesh): A major disaster was averted, thanks to the quick reaction of the loco pilot of the Tatanagar-Ernakulum Express in the Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of Monday.
The loco pilot spotted flames in one of the coaches and immediately brought the train to a stop near the Elamanchili station around 1 am. Train staff then evacuated panic-stricken passengers from two coaches. Later, one body was recovered from the completely gutted B1 coach.
Officials said the fire originated in the B1 coach and spread to the adjacent M1 and B2 coaches. The affected coaches were promptly detached from the rest of the train, preventing the blaze from spreading further.
While B1 was the first coach to catch fire, the M1 and B2 coaches were also severely damaged and were later found to be completely gutted.
Acco to the railways, there were 82 passengers in one of the affected coaches and 76 in another at the time of the incident.
“Unfortunately, a body was found in the B1 coach. The person has been identified as Chandrasekhar Sundaram,” an official told India Today.
Had the loco pilot not stopped the train in time, the toll could have been much higher as most passengers were asleep and the fire would have spread to other coaches.
All other passengers are safe, the railways said. Arrangements were made to send them to their destinations. An inquiry has been ordered.
