HYDERABAD, India, 21 August 2006 — The passengers of Madras-Hyderabad Express train had a miraculous escape from the jaws of death as five bogies of the train caught fire at Secunderabad railway station soon after they disembarked at the station yesterday morning.
The train No. 2753 from Madras arrived at Secunderabad railway station at 6.05 a.m., almost an hour behind schedule. The railway authorities informed the passengers bound for Hyderabad that due to late running of other trains, the Madras-Hyderabad Express would reach Nampally (Hyderabad) railway station one to one and a half hours late. Thus, all the 1,800 passengers, including 300 bound for Hyderabad, disembarked at Secunderabad railway station.
“The train then left for Hyderabad after it got clearance at 7.30 a.m. As it covered a little distance from the platform, smoke started emanating from one of the bogies — S-9 coach. Soon, due to the morning breeze, four other coaches caught fire. The guard noticed the fire and the train was stopped and the affected bogies were detached. The accident occurred around 7.30 and 7.45 a.m.,” South Central Railway spokesman Michael Fredericks told Arab News.
“The five bogies were totally gutted even as firefighting personnel tried to put out the fire. There are no casualties and no injuries to anyone and there is no loss to properties of passengers since the entire train was empty. The loss to the railways may be around rupees one crore,” the SCR spokesman added.
SCR General Manager D.N. Mathur and other top officials rushed to the station and inspected the bogies. The railway safety officials and forensic experts were probing the cause of the fire accident.
