Gaya/Patna: Panic broke out on the Gaya–Koderma railway section after smoke was seen rising from a coach of the Jan Shatabdi Express travelling from Patna to Ranchi, prompting passengers to disembark amid fears of a fire.
The incident occurred shortly after the train departed from Gaya Junction and reached near the Bandhua railway crossing, where passengers noticed smoke emerging from near the wheels of one of the coaches.
Brake fault triggers smoke
Railway officials said a technical fault in the brakes of the third coach from the guard’s cabin caused the issue. The jamming of the brakes led to friction against the wheels, producing smoke.
Personnel at the nearby Manpur–Rasulpur gate alerted the train crew, following which the driver brought the train to an immediate halt.
Swift response averts incident
Although panic briefly spread among passengers, railway staff quickly reached the site and managed the situation. Fire extinguishers were used to control the heat and smoke from the affected wheels.
Officials said the timely intervention helped avert a potentially serious incident. No injuries were reported.
The Bandhua railway crossing remained closed for around 30 minutes during the incident, leading to long queues of vehicles on both sides.
After necessary checks and repairs, the train was cleared to resume its journey.
