20160530 India Train catches fire, passengers safe
India May 29 2016 “Automobile & Railway”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Train catches fire, passengers safe
Updated: 2016-05-30-07:47
Passengers in a Trichy-bound fast passenger train escaped unhurt after one of its coaches caught fire while on the move on Sunday morning. The incident happened minutes after the diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU) Karur-Tiruchirappalli passenger train started from Karur railway station around 6.50am.
Station master of Puliyur railway station was the first to spot smoke emanating from the fifth coach of the train while it was crossing the station. He altered the station master of Veeraraakiyam railway station, which was the next destination of the train. The loco pilot who was informed about the incident, managed to bring the train to a halt at the station at around 7.13am.
As passengers got down unhurt, railway staff who were ready with firefighting equipment tried to douse the fire. “As we were unable to control the fire with our limited equipment, we informed the fire and rescue personnel in Karur,” said a railway staff in Veeraraakiyam railway station. Firefighters rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control at around 8.15am, he added.
A four-member team comprising of senior divisional mechanical engineer (SDME) and assistant senior divisional mechanical engineer (ASDME) from Salem and Golden Rock inspected the spot soon after the incident. Blast in one of the rectifier units, which is an electronic component of the engine, triggered the fire, a senior official said, adding that its a rare occurrence.
Each unit of the DEMU passenger train comprises four coaches, of which, two would accommodate passengers. While rest of the two coaches have engine components, one propels the train while another remains idle while on the move.
The fire accident in middle of the train averted casualty, an official told TOI and added “there were chances of derailment resulting in causalities had the fire broke out on the front portion of the train.”
The relief loco came after two hours and the train began its onward journey at around 10.15am.
Since no other trains were scheduled to cross the same track, the incident did not affect the normal schedule.
Web Source: THE TIMES OF INDIA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/Train-catches-fire-passengers-safe/articleshow/52497404.cms