Bihar: Fire erupts in engine of passenger train at Simri Bakhtiyarpur railway station
Saharsa, August 3
A fire broke out in the engine and an adjoining coach of the Samastipur-Saharsa passenger train No. 63344 at Simri Bakhtiyarpur railway station in Bihar's Saharsa district around 3 am.
Passengers were evacuated safely, and no casualties have been reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Assistant Fire Officer Niranjan Kumar said.
Assistant Fire Officer Niranjan Kumar said, "We received information that a railway engine had caught fire. Upon receiving the alert, we deployed a foam tender and a water tender from the Saharsa fire station to the scene and are currently working on the situation. The fire is currently under control. We have no information regarding any loss of life so far."
A passenger told ANI, "At 3:40 am, a fire broke out on the train. Passengers are facing a very distressing situation because of this. All the passengers have been stranded and inconvenienced."
Further details are awaited.
Earlier in May, a fire broke out in the empty coaches of the Jaynagar-Udhna Antyodaya Express at the Madhubani Railway Station in Bihar.
The train was at platform number 3 at Madhubani Station, undergoing shunting operations, when the incident occurred. The affected coach was completely gutted in the blaze, triggering panic at the station. Officials said the train operates between Udhna and Jaynagar. The fire broke out while the train was stationary at the platform.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is really alarming. Middle of the night, passengers sleeping, and suddenly fire in the engine! The quick response of the fire department saved lives, but we need preventive measures. Railway should do regular maintenance checks and not wait for such incidents to happen.
Same thing happened in Madhubani in May. Seems like a pattern. Railway ministry should wake up and look at the aging infrastructure and electrical systems in these trains. Passengers' safety can't be compromised. This isn't just about Bihar, it's about the whole country.
I feel so bad for those passengers who were stranded at 3:40 am in a distressing situation. Imagine being stuck on a train in the middle of the night with no idea what's happening. Railway authorities should at least provide proper arrangements for passengers during such emergencies.
Good to hear that fire tenders reached quickly and brought the situation under control. But why does this keep happening? The government keeps announcing new trains but ignores safety upgrades. Need better fire detection systems and emergency protocols on all trains, especially older ones.
This is why I always travel with my family on trains only during daytime. The fear of such incidents at night is real. Railway should prioritize installing fire alarms and automatic extinguishers in every coach. Better safe than sorry!
N We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.