Ten people were killed while 20 others were injured after a fire broke out in the Bharat Gaurav tourist train near Madurai on Saturday. The train was en route from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh to Rameswaram.

Southern Railway has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the family of deceased. The train came to a stop around 1 km away from Madurai railway station. Preliminary information indicates that the fire originated due to cooking activities involving a gas cylinder by devotees aboard the train.

The flames that started in one compartment, quickly spread to adjacent ones. In response, passengers urgently evacuated the train amid chaos caused by the fire’s outbreak.

“Around 5:30 am today, there was fire in a coach halted here at Madurai railway station. There were pilgrims travelling from Uttar Pradesh in it. When they lit the gas stove to make coffee, the gas cylinder blasted. As of now, we have retrieved nine bodies," says Madurai District Collector MS Sangeetha.

Reports indicate that a total of six passengers from Uttar Pradesh have been confirmed dead at this point.

According to news agency ANI, B Guganesan, Chief Public Relations Officer, Southern Railway, in an official statement said the fire broke out at 5. 15am in a private party coach at the Madurai yard and fire service which was informed arrived by 5.45am and the blaze was put out by 7.15 am. There was no damage to any other coaches.

According to the release by the Railways, “the passengers in the private party coach have illegally smuggled gas cylinder and this caused the fire. Many passengers had got out of the coach on noticing fire. Some passengers had got down at platform itself,” reported the news agency.

Source: PTI