Major Fire in Garib Rath Express Coach in Punjab’s Sirhind, Panic Among Passengers

Sirhind (The Uttam Hindu): A major mishap was averted on Friday morning when a coach of the Amritsar–Saharsa Garib Rath Express (Train No. 12204) caught fire at Sirhind Railway Station in Punjab. The incident took place around 7:30 a.m., after which the railway staff immediately swung into action and safely evacuated all passengers from the affected coach.

According to officials, the fire brigade and railway fire unit reached the spot promptly and brought the situation under control. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported. Once the flames were doused, passengers were shifted to other coaches, and the train is expected to resume its journey shortly.

Eyewitnesses said that the train had just crossed Sirhind station when smoke began billowing out from coach number 19. A passenger noticed the smoke and pulled the emergency chain to stop the train. Soon, flames erupted, creating panic among the passengers.

The railway, police, and fire brigade teams rushed to the scene and started rescue operations. During the chaos, several passengers jumped off the train to safety, resulting in minor injuries for some. A few travelers lost their belongings in the affected coach. Seeing the fire spread, passengers in nearby coaches also disembarked as a precaution. The TTE and train pilot immediately reported the incident to the railway control room, ensuring quick response from authorities.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and officials have launched an investigation into the incident.