A major disaster was averted early on Sunday after a fire broke out in a coach of the Trivandrum Central–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam district. All 68 passengers travelling in the affected coach were evacuated safely. However, a railway relief vehicle rushing to the spot later overturned in a roadside gorge, injuring several railway employees.
The incident took place after Train No. 12431 left Ratlam Junction at around 3.45am for Kota Junction in Rajasthan. Railway officials said the blaze erupted at about 5.15am in the AC three-tier coach B-1 between Luni Richha and Vikramgarh Alot stations.
Smoke rapidly filled the compartment, triggering panic among passengers. Railway staff and emergency teams evacuated all 68 passengers from the coach within 15 minutes, officials said. No passenger injuries were reported.
The fire later spread to an adjoining luggage-cum-guard van. Local residents joined railway personnel and fire brigade teams in efforts to contain the blaze. Technical teams disconnected the power supply and detached the affected coaches to prevent the fire from spreading further.
Officials said the B-1 coach was extensively damaged in the incident.
In a separate accident during the relief operation, a Carriage and Wagon department vehicle heading towards the site overturned between Shamgarh and Suwasra after the driver reportedly lost control. The vehicle fell into a roadside gorge, leaving more than five railway employees seriously injured.
Rescue teams shifted the injured workers to a hospital in Kota. The cause of the road accident is under investigation.
The incident disrupted rail traffic on the busy Delhi-Mumbai route for several hours. Western Railway set up help desks at Nagda, Ujjain and Ratlam stations to assist passengers and their families.
Sourabh Jain, senior manager (commercial), Ratlam division, said single-line movement had been started on the Up line to clear stranded trains, while restoration work on the Down line was continuing to resume normal operations.
