Madhubani/Patna:A general coach of the Jaynagar-Udhna Express was gutted in a fire at Madhubani railway station on Thursday morning, with railway officials suspecting a short circuit as the likely cause.
The train, numbered 22563, was stationed on platform number 3 for maintenance work when flames and thick smoke were seen rising from one of its general coaches. The coach was extensively damaged in the incident.
No passenger or railway staff was injured as the train had been parked at the station for the past two days and was empty at the time of the fire incident.
Fire brought under control
Station authorities alerted the fire brigade after receiving information from railway staff and local residents. Fire tenders reached the spot and managed to bring the blaze under control after several rounds of firefighting operations.
The incident caused temporary panic at the station, though no casualties were reported.
DRM visits site, inquiry ordered
Samastipur divisional railway manager (DRM) Jyoti Prakash Mishra visited Madhubani station on a special train to inspect the site and review the situation with railway officials.
Mishra said a high-level inquiry committee would be constituted to investigate the incident.
“The incident has been inspected in detail and information was gathered from officials. A high-level inquiry committee will be formed and strict action will be taken against those found responsible after the investigation,” the DRM said.
Repeated fire incidents raise concerns
Railway officials said preliminary findings pointed to a short circuit, though a detailed investigation is underway.
This is not the first such incident reported at Madhubani station. Earlier, a fire had also broken out in the Swatantrata Senani Express, reportedly due to an electrical fault.
Repeated incidents of this nature have raised concerns among passengers and local residents regarding railway safety and maintenance standards.
Railway authorities said security and monitoring at the station had been intensified following the incident.
