Fire Breaks Out in Garib Rath Express Near Sirhind, AC Coach Gutted; No Casualties Reported
Panic spread as passengers jumped from the moving train; officials suspect short circuit as the cause of the blaze in coach number 19.
A major fire incident occurred on Saturday morning in the Garib Rath Express (Train No. 12204) traveling from Amritsar, Punjab, to Saharsa, Bihar.
The blaze reportedly started in coach number 19, an AC bogie, near Sirhind railway station due to a suspected short circuit.
According to officials, several traders from Ludhiana were among the passengers on board. As soon as smoke was noticed, a passenger pulled the emergency chain, bringing the train to a halt. Panic broke out as passengers rushed to evacuate the burning compartment, leaving behind their belongings. A few travelers sustained minor injuries while jumping off the train, and one person was reported to have been seriously hurt.
Railway, fire brigade, and police teams reached the spot immediately after receiving the alert. Firefighters managed to control the blaze within an hour, but the entire coach number 19 was gutted. Adjacent coach number 18 also suffered partial damage.
After detaching the burnt compartment, the train resumed its journey toward Ambala after a delay of about three hours. Railway officials confirmed that there was no loss of life in the incident.
Ambala Division DRM Vinod Bhatia inspected the site and ordered an inquiry.
Preliminary reports suggest that an electrical short circuit caused the fire. The incident affected the movement of several other trains, including Amritsar Shatabdi Express, Gurmukhi Superfast Express, Sachkhand Express, Delhi Intercity, and Jalandhar Intercity Express, leading to delays.
Passengers recalled that the train had just crossed Sirhind station around 7 a.m. when smoke began to emerge from the AC coach. Railway and police officials coordinated rescue operations, ensuring all passengers were safely evacuated. The damaged coaches are being replaced at Ambala before the train continues toward its destination. Authorities have begun assessing the loss of passengers’ belongings, and forensic teams are examining CCTV footage from inside the train as part of the ongoing investigation.