Patna: Chaos erupted aboard the Patna Azimabad Express late on Thursday night after a fire broke out in the S2 sleeper coach, forcing terrified passengers to evacuate with their belongings as the train came to an emergency halt.
The train, which departed Patna Junction at 11:46pm, had barely left the station when smoke and flames were seen emerging from the S2 bogie. Alerted by the blaze, the train guard promptly stopped the train at Phulwari station, triggering a swift but tense response from emergency services.
Passengers in neighbouring coaches, including S3 and S4, also scrambled to escape, many carrying their luggage in panic. “People were running, shouting — everyone was just trying to get out,” said one eyewitness, describing the scene as “like something out of a nightmare.”
Emergency teams from Patna Junction reached the site and managed to bring the fire under control after a concerted effort. Initial investigations pointed to a technical fault in the battery panel of the S2 coach, which had sparked and caused the compartment to fill with smoke.
“Due to a fault in the battery panel in the bogie, sparks started coming out, due to which the train was filled with smoke,” confirmed Saraswati Chandra, Chief Public Relations Officer of East Central Railway. “The fire was controlled by stopping the train at Phulwari itself. After this, the battery panel was repaired at Danapur and the train was sent off.”
Following the incident, affected passengers were shifted to other bogies, and the train proceeded to Danapur Junction, where the damaged components were repaired. The train resumed its journey at approximately 1:30am.
Train operations between Patna and Danapur on the Howrah-DDU section were suspended for around 30 minutes during the emergency response and technical repairs.
Though no injuries were reported, the incident raised questions about the maintenance and inspection protocols for long-distance trains, especially during peak travel hours. For the hundreds of passengers aboard, it was a journey that quickly turned from routine to frightening — and one they won’t forget anytime soon.
