Kanpur: At least 21 passengers were injured after a fire broke out in a sleeper coach of Delhi-Saharsa Vaishali Superfast Express at Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah on Thursday.
The fire was reported in coach No. S-6 around 2.30 am, said Uday Shankar, CO, Railways.
“The fire occurred in the coach near the pantry car. An investigation will take place as to why the fire broke out,” Shankar said.
Eleven of the injured were referred to PGI with breathing problems, and the eight others admitted to a district hospital with minor burn injuries, he added.
It was the second incident of fire on a train in Etawah in a span of less than 12 hours. On Wednesday, three coaches of the New Delhi-Darbhanga Superfast Express caught fire near Sarai Bhupat railway station in Etawah. Eight people sustained minor injuries.
Upon the train’s arrival at Etawah at 2:12 am,
Some passengers noticed smoke billowing from S-6 coach of Saharsa-bound Vaishali Superfast Express and immediately alerted authorities. The train was halted before reaching Mainpuri junction to address the crisis.
Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) got down to business, but it took an hour to bring the blaze under control.
The affected coach was detached, before the train resumed its journey at 6 am.
