PATIALA: Four general coaches of the Amritsar-Jalpaiguri Karmabhoomi Express were affected by a fire near Rajpura in Punjab around 1pm on Friday, prompting the evacuation of passengers. No deaths were reported, while details of injuries were being compiled, railway officials said.




Some passengers were taken to hospitals in Rajpura and Fatehgarh Sahib for treatment, Patiala Government Railway Police DSP Gurdeep Singh said. Medical emergency teams from the Ambala Railway Division were also dispatched to the site.




SMO of Rajpura Civil Hospital, Dr Sharanpreet Singh, said, "A total of 15 passengers with minor burn injuries, bruises and breathlessness were brought to the hospital. Of these eight patients reported minor burn injuries but their condition is stable and they may be discharged soon".




Senior Medical Officer of Fatehgarh Sahib Hospital, Dr Jaspreet Singh Bedi, said only one patient with minor bruises had reported to the hospital.




A short circuit in a coach fan was suspected to have caused the fire in the Karmabhoomi Express (12508), GRP AIG Amarpreet Singh Ghumman said. Passengers also reported seeing a spark from a fan.




The fire reportedly broke out shortly after the train crossed Sadhugarh village around 12.58pm. Smoke filled the compartments as the train travelled along the Sarai Banjara-Basantpura stretch, about 15km from Rajpura.




Fire brigade teams were called in to extinguish the flames. Four damaged general coaches were detached from the train. Railway officials said the fourth coach had not suffered any major damage, but its door was slightly damaged, following which it was also detached.




SHO Gurpreet Singh said, "Four fire brigades were called to extinguish the fire. These coaches were behind the engine. The fan in the first coach caught short circuit following which the coach caught fire. The drive immediately stopped the train after alarm was raised by passengers. As these general coaches were attached to each other, the passengers from first coach immediately shifted to the next one thus averting any major injuries or casualties. The remaining coaches also caught fire until the fire brigades reached to extinguish the fire".




He added, "A relief train was arranged for the stranded passengers as all passengers were alighted from the Karambhoomi express that caught fire".




Divisional Railway Manager Vinod Kumar Bhatia reached the site to oversee rescue and track-clearing operations.




Maninder Mohan, 56, an injured passenger who was discharged from Fatehgarh Sahib hospital, said, "I was destined to reach Muzzafarpur but the train coach caught fire. The train was stopped but the coach was engulfed in the smoke. I had to jump out after breaking an emergency window pane following which I faced minor injury".