The Union Railway Ministry on Tuesday said preliminary inquiries indicate that anti-social elements may be behind a recent spate of fire incidents involving trains, raising concerns over passenger safety.
One incident occurred on May 17 in Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh, where a fire broke out in an AC coach of the Thiruvananthapuram–Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express. The train was halted and passengers were evacuated in time, and no injuries were reported.
The next day, a Sasaram–Patna passenger train in Bihar caught fire around 6 am, prompting passengers to rush out. Fire personnel reached the spot and brought the blaze under control.
In another case cited by the ministry, a fire was reported in the Mithila Express while it was parked at Howrah. During the inquiry, officials found a partially burnt cloth soaked in petrol inside the coach; railway staff contained the fire quickly, preventing a major mishap.
The ministry said the initial probe suggests attempts to threaten passenger safety and create fear within the railway system. The Railway Protection Force and concerned authorities are continuing investigations into the incidents.
