Madurai railway station tragedy: Gas cylinder causes deadly fire on Lucknow-Rameswaram Express

A devastating passenger train fire broke out on Saturday at the Madurai railway station in Tamil Nadu, leading to the death of at least 9 people and critically injuring 20 others. The incident occurred on the Lucknow-Rameswaram Express, according to reports. Officials from Southern Railway have attributed the cause of the fire to an “illegally smuggled” gas cylinder inside a private party coach on the train.

Details of the Incident: Firefighters Douse Flames, Authorities Investigate

As per IANS’ report, the coach that caught fire had 55 passengers, six of whom were from Uttar Pradesh. Madurai firefighters were quick to arrive at the scene and managed to extinguish the fire. Madurai District Collector MS Sangeetha stated, “Around 5:30 am today, there was fire in a coach halted here at Madurai railway station. There were pilgrims traveling from Uttar Pradesh in it. When they lit the gas stove to make coffee, the gas cylinder blasted. As of now, we have retrieved nine bodies.”

Passenger Misconduct: Illegal Gas Cylinders to Blame

It was revealed that the passengers had “illegally smuggled” the gas cylinders into the train, which led to the fire accident. The tourist coach, part of an Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) tour, had arrived at the Madurai railway station from Lucknow around 5.15 am and was later attached to the Punalur-Madurai Express. Officials said that the fire broke out while the train was stopped at the Madurai Yard junction early Saturday morning.

Ongoing Investigation and Future Measures

The authorities are investigating the incident, and stringent measures are expected to be put in place to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The tragic incident has spotlighted the need for stricter enforcement of safety protocols, particularly concerning flammable items on trains.

In summary, the passenger train fire at Madurai railway station in Tamil Nadu has resulted in a tragic loss of life and multiple critical injuries. Officials have cited illegally smuggled gas cylinders as the cause of the devastating fire on the Lucknow-Rameswaram Express. Investigations are ongoing to uncover the full details and to implement safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.