Rajdhani Scare Near Ratlam, Quick Action Saves 68 As Blaze Guts Ac Coach

Passengers on one of India’s premier trains woke up to smoke and flames instead of breakfast as a massive fire engulfed an AC coach on the Delhi bound Rajdhani. The incident between Luni Richha and Vikramgarh Alot stations under West Central Railway’s Kota division triggered a full scale emergency response. Officials say swift work by the crew and Railway Protection Force prevented a potential disaster on the busy Delhi Mumbai route.

What Happened On Board

Railway officials told PTI that the fire started around 5.15 am in the B1 AC coach of Train No 12431, which was carrying 68 passengers at the time.

The guard and staff noticed smoke and flames, alerted the loco pilot and had the train stopped between Alot and Lunirichha stations, after which emergency evacuation procedures were initiated and the coach was cleared in about 15 minutes.

Power Cut, Coaches Detached, Relief Trains Rushed

As a precaution, overhead electric supply to the affected section was immediately disconnected and the burning B1 coach was detached from the rake.

In some accounts, officials said an adjacent coach was also separated to prevent the fire from spreading further, while accident relief trains and the Divisional Railway Manager of Ratlam rushed to the spot to oversee firefighting and restoration.

No Injuries, But Bags Lost And Trains Delayed

Kota division PRO Ravindera Lakhara confirmed that all passengers were deboarded safely and none sustained injuries, though some luggage was destroyed in the blaze.

The incident disrupted traffic on the key New Delhi Mumbai line for nearly two to two and a half hours as Rajdhani services and other trains including the Mumbai Jaipur Superfast were held up during rescue operations and track safety checks.

Short Circuit Suspected, Inquiry Ordered

Preliminary reports suggest an electrical short circuit may have triggered the fire, but senior officials have ordered a detailed inquiry to establish the exact cause and examine whether maintenance or equipment issues were involved.

Railways officials say an additional AC coach will be attached at Kota station so that affected passengers can continue their journey to Delhi, and that lessons from the incident will be fed into safety reviews for premium trains like the Rajdhani Express.

Passenger Safety Insights

Fire broke out around 5.15 am in B1 AC coach of Thiruvananthapuram Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express near Luni Richha Vikramgarh Alot in Ratlam district

All 68 passengers in the coach were safely evacuated within about 15 minutes, with no injuries or fatalities reported

Overhead power was cut and the damaged coach and in some reports an adjacent coach were detached to stop the fire from spreading; accident relief train and DRM reached the site

Delhi Mumbai rail traffic was disrupted for around two hours; short circuit is suspected but a formal enquiry has been launched and an extra coach will be added at Kota to carry passengers onward

Sources: Hindustan Times, India Today, NDTV, The Telegraph, Gulf News and Economic Times