Nine people were killed and eight others injured when a fire broke out inside a stationary train compartment at the Madurai railway station.
Published Aug 29, 2023 | 3:16 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 29, 2023 | 3:16 PM
Six bodies were found in a charred condition inside the coach and three more were found with severe burn injuries. (Supplied)
Five people associated with a catering firm have been arrested in connection with the train coach fire in Madurai. They have been held for the illegal use of a cooking gas cylinder inside the train compartment that resulted in casualties, including the death of nine persons.
Nine people were killed and eight others injured when a fire broke out inside a stationary train compartment at the Madurai railway station on 26 August.
The deceased, who were bound for Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, had last week embarked from Lucknow on the pilgrimage with several others in a private party coach booked by their tour operator.
The train coach had 64 passengers including pilgrims, the tour organiser, and the five catering workers.
The workers travelled in the train together with the group of pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh and they were arrested on Monday, 28 August, following questioning by the Government Railway Police for over a day.
The arrested men were produced before a court in Madurai, which remanded them in judicial custody till 11 September.
A GRP official told PTI that a case has been registered against the accused for causing the deaths of nine pilgrims (besides injuries to passengers) by their act (IPC section 304 Part-II culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and for their negligent conduct (IPC section 285).
Also, Section 164 of The Railways Act (unlawfully bringing dangerous goods) has been slapped against them for illegally storing and using a cooking gas cylinder in a train compartment.
The youngest of the accused is 19 years old, and two other men are in their mid-20s. Two others are aged 47 and 61, the official said.
Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, they were on a visit to holy places in the southern parts of the country. Bodies of the victims, including that of the tour organiser, were taken to Uttar Pradesh on Sunday by flight.
Barring one pilgrim, who is being treated at a hospital here, all other survivors have reached their home districts in Uttar Pradesh, railway sources said. The survivors include seven persons who were treated for their injuries.
Commissioner of Railway Safety (Southern Circle) AM Chowdhary who commenced his inquiry into the fire accident on 27 August is continuing his probe and a report is expected to be submitted in a month.
According to the Railway Police, the Lucknow-Rameswaram Bharat Gaurav train’s private party coach that was attached at the Nagercoil Junction on 25 August to the Punalur-Madurai Express arrived in Madurai at 3.47 am on 26 August.
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 circuit train, which was carrying a pilgrimage party 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.
(With PTI inputs)
