Burning train: Close shave for passengers

BHUBANESWAR: Passengers of the Howrah-bound Coromondel Express had a narrow escape even though fire broke out in a general compartment of the train during wee hours of Friday. Luckily, no one was injured. The firefighters took about 45 minutes to put out the flames in the compartment, second from the engine, in which over 100 passengers were travelling. The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has already ordered a probe into the incident. The fire erupted from the ceiling of the compartment, said Bhubaneswar Fire Station sources. The sparks fell on the passengers most of whom were asleep. Once the travellers raised an alarm, the train halted near Punama Gate level-crossing.“The compartment being a general one, it was chock-a-block and smoke had enveloped the coach. It was scary,” said a passenger.By the time the firefighters reached, at 4.35 am, the passengers had left the compartment along with their belongings and the flames begun to engulf the whole coach. Once the fire was doused, the train resumed its journey.  After it reached Bhubaneswar Railway Station, the damaged compartment was detached and a new one  added.  The train left for its destination at about 7 am.   “We are yet to ascertain the source of the fire. Since it started from the ceiling, we believe it may have been triggered by an electric short-circuit,” said fire officer-in-charge Siba Charan Mohanty.