A major fire accident took place early Monday morning on the Tata Nagar–Ernakulam Express (Train No. 18189) in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district. A 70-year-old man lost his life after two air-conditioned coaches of the train caught fire near Duvvada.
The train was travelling from Tatanagar to Ernakulam via the Visakhapatnam district. According to initial reports, the fire started around 1.30 am after the train crossed Duvvada. Flames were first seen in the B1 and M2 AC coaches, which were located next to the pantry car.
Loco pilots spot the fire, train halted
A railway police officer said the fire was first noticed by the loco pilots near a railway point close to Yelamanchili. The train was immediately stopped at the station. However, the fire spread very quickly before fire engines could arrive. Both AC coaches were fully burnt and badly damaged.
Panic among passengers
As thick smoke filled the coaches, passengers became frightened and rushed out of the train. Many people did not know what was happening. Eyewitnesses said heavy smoke made it hard to see anything, which increased panic and confusion.
One passenger dies
Railway officials confirmed that all passengers were safe, which brought some relief. But sadly, one person died in the accident.
The victim was identified as Chandrasekhar Sundar (70) from Vijayawada. He was stuck inside the B1 AC coach when the fire broke out and died due to burn injuries.
Fire may have started due to overheating brakes
Railway sources said that after the train left Anakapalli, sparks and flames were seen near Narsingaballi. This was reportedly caused by the brakes of the B1 AC coach overheating, which then caught fire.
The train reached Anakapalli nearly four hours late because of the incident.
Firefighters battle flames for hours
Fire teams from Anakapalli, Elamanchili, and Nakkapalli rushed to the scene. They worked for several hours to bring the fire under control. Even after their efforts, all luggage and belongings inside the two AC coaches were completely destroyed.
Emergency response at the station
Senior railway officials arrived at the station to inspect the situation. Ambulances were also kept ready as a safety measure. Hundreds of passengers had to wait at the station in the cold night for many hours.
Train services disrupted
Due to the accident, train movement on the Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada route was temporarily stopped. This caused delays for many trains.
Several trains heading from Visakhapatnam towards Vijayawada were halted at Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, and Tuni stations while officials worked to clear the tracks and restore services.
Passengers shifted and train prepared to resume journey
After 3.30 am, the burnt coaches were removed. Railway staff then began shifting passengers from the damaged coaches to other available compartments.
Passengers from the two burnt coaches were taken to Samarlakota using three APSRTC buses. There, two new AC coaches were attached to the train. After this, the Tata–Ernakulam Express was prepared to continue its journey towards Ernakulam.
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Railway orders detailed investigation
Railway authorities have ordered a full inquiry to find out the exact cause of the fire and to check whether there were any safety failures.
The tragic incident has raised serious concerns about passenger safety and maintenance of train equipment.
