The Southern Railways said that the passengers on the party coach illegally smuggled gas cylinders, which is believed to be the cause of the fire.
Six bodies were found in a charred condition inside the coach and three more were found with severe burn injuries. (Supplied)
At least nine people were reported dead and 20 more were injured in the wee hours of Saturday, 26 August, after a fire erupted in a party coach at the Madurai Railway Station yard in Tamil Nadu.
According to the Railway Police, the Lucknow-Rameswaram Bharat Gaurav train’s private party coach that was attached at the Nagercoil Junction on Friday to the Punalur-Madurai Express arrived in Madurai at 3.47 am on Saturday.
On arrival, the party coach was detached and parked on the Madurai Stabling line. Madurai Railway Station authorities said the fire was reported in the coach at 5.15 am.
The schedule of the private party coach. (Supplied)
The circuit train, which was carrying a pilgrimage party — a total of 55 passengers and eight helpers — from Lucknow to Rameswaram, left Lucknow on 17 August. It was scheduled to reach Chennai on 27 August via Ananthapuri Express and then return to Lucknow from there on 29 August.
The Railways officials subsequently alerted Madurai Fire and Rescue Services and they arrived at 5.45 am. The fire was put out by 7.15 am, after a long struggle.
Once the fire was put out, six bodies were found in a charred condition inside the coach and three more were found with severe burn injuries.
Twenty people, who suffered burn injuries, were rushed to Madurai Rajaji Government Medical College Hospital and are currently being treated at the burns ward.
Gas cylinders recovered at the fire site. (Supplied)
According to a statement from the Southern Railways, the passengers on the private party coach illegally smuggled gas cylinders, which is believed to be the cause of the fire. “Many passengers got out of the coach when they noticed the fire. Some passengers got down at the platform itself,” the statement read.
According to the station authorities, there was no damage to any other coaches. It further stated that no changes in train patterns have been made due to the accident. All trains are being operated as per schedule.
The Divisional Railway Manager and other divisional officers inspected the fire spot. Madurai District Collector MS Sangeetha and Madurai City Police Commissioner KS Narenthiran Nayar monitored the rescue operation.
Following a preliminary investigation, DC Sangeetha told South First that the fire originated in the coach as the passengers were cooking using a gas cylinder and the flames quickly spread. Rescue operations were done on a war-footing, she said.
The Southern Railways has announced an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh to the family of the deceased.
Speaking to South First, Rathinavel, Dean of Madurai Government Rajaji Medical College Hospital, said that, in total, the bodies of six men and three women have been received so far — one of which was charred beyond recognition.
Six more people were admitted to the Madurai Railways Hospital, apart from a dozen being treated at the Government Rajaji Hospital.
The Southern Railways announced that helpline numbers — 9360552608 and 8015681915 — have been provided at the site to share the information related to the fire incident and casualties.
Following the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the deaths caused by the fire and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of those who died.
“Instructions have been given to provide an ex-gratia amount of ₹2 lakh to the next of kin of every citizen of Uttar Pradesh who died in this accident,” Adityanath said on X.
“The loss of lives in the unfortunate train accident in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, is extremely sad and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families,” he said.
तमिलनाडु के मदुरै में दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण रेल दुर्घटना में हुई जनहानि अत्यंत दुःखद एवं हृदय विदारक है। मेरी संवेदनाएं शोक संतप्त परिजनों के साथ हैं।
इस दुर्घटना में काल-कवलित हुए उत्तर प्रदेश के प्रत्येक नागरिक के परिजन को ₹02 लाख की अनुग्रह राशि प्रदान करने के निर्देश दिए हैं।…
— Yogi Adityanath (मोदी का परिवार) (@myogiadityanath) August 26, 2023
In a statement, the Uttar Pradesh government said that the chief minister spoke to the railway minister and learnt about the details of the incident.
On X, Adityanath also said that instructions have been given to authorities to ensure that the injured receive proper treatment. A toll-free number 1070 has also been issued for quick assistance, he said. Uttar Pradesh also mentioned 9454441081 and 9454441075 as helpline numbers.
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