Fire in coal-loaded goods train in Odisha's Sambalpur doused, no injuries: Railways
Sambalpur, May 30
A major fire that erupted in a coal-loaded goods train as it passed through Kesinga town on Friday evening was completely doused by emergency teams after a swift rescue operation.
Railway authorities acted immediately upon detecting the blaze on Friday at 7:15 PM, successfully preventing injuries or major damage.
According to the East Coast Railways, "a fire was noticed in a coal-loaded goods train in Sambalpur Division while passing through Kesinga at approximately 19:15 hrs today. Railway officials immediately initiated emergency response measures and alerted local authorities.
The train was brought to Titlagarh at around 20:15 hrs, where firefighting operations were promptly undertaken. The Fire Brigade reached the site at about 20:25 hrs and started efforts to extinguish the fire, the release stated.
As per preliminary information, five wagons of the goods train were affected.
Senior railway officials and emergency teams are present at the site and closely monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, the Railway and Fire Services officials carried out prompt firefighting operations, successfully bringing the situation under control. The affected rake is being made ready for onward movement.
The fire in the coal-loaded goods train in Sambalpur Division has been completely doused quickly, and passenger train movement remained unaffected throughout, a press release stated.
Earlier in May, in a separate incident, a massive fire broke out at a tyre workshop-cum-depot in the Mancheswar Industrial Area in Bhubaneswar.
The blaze prompted a 3.5-hour containment operation that required 12 fire engines, 55 firefighters, and an advanced robotic monitor, which brought the flames under control.
Fire officer, Anup Kumar Das, speaking to ANI, said, "On reaching the spot and seeing the intensity, I informed 6 other fire stations. With the help of 12 engines, 55 firefighters, DFO Bhubaneswar circle, and a robotic monitor, the fire was brought under control in around 3.5 hours."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Had a similar scare near my village last year. Coal trains are literally fire hazards on wheels. The railways need to upgrade their inspection systems. But today, I'm just relieved that no lives were lost. Also, the fire in Bhubaneswar earlier this month showed how hard our firefighters work—total respect for them. 🙌
Good that they acted promptly, but why did it take an hour to bring the train to Titlagarh? If the fire was spotted at 7:15 PM, why not stop earlier? Also, 5 wagons affected—that's a lot of coal lost. Hope the railways investigate the root cause instead of just patting themselves on the back. Safety first, always.
As a daily train commuter in Odisha, I'm glad passenger trains weren't affected. The railways often get blamed, but here they acted fast. However, this is the second fire incident this month in the state—coincidence or a pattern? Time for a thorough safety audit. 🔍
Amazing coordination between railway staff and fire brigade! They saved the day. But I'm worried about the environmental impact—burning coal releases toxic fumes. Also, those robotic monitors used in Bhubaneswar are impressive tech. Wish we had more of that in smaller towns. Stay safe, everyone! 🌿
I read about the Bhubaneswar tyre workshop fire too—12 engines and 55 firefighters for 3.5 hours. And here, the coal train was controlled in about an hour. Shows how different the challenges are. My only concern: are the fire stations near railway lines equipped for train fires? Hope the authorities review this.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.