Stephen Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (MS)

Updated

Kasargod, Jan 17: In the preliminary inquiry that was conducted into the fire mishap on Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram Malabar Express which occurred on the morning of Sunday, January 17, it has come to light that the bikes that were loaded in the goods bogie caused the fire.

Goods superintendent of Kasargod railway station has been suspended from duty in this regard. Zonal officers of Palakkad railway have suspended the commercial supervisor who got the bikes loaded in the goods van.

From the preliminary investigation it is clear that the fire spread due to the two bikes. These bikes were loaded from Kasargod railway station to be taken to Parashala of Thiruvananthapuram. It is suspected that the petrol in the bikes might have caused the fire.

According to railway rules petrol tanks need to be completely emptied before loading the same on the goods van. In the preliminary investigation, the officials have come to the conclusion that there was dereliction of duty on the part of the supervisor who was responsible for loading goods on the bogie at Kasargod railway station.

The fire mishap had occurred on the morning of Sunday at Varkala of Thiruvananthapuram on Malabar Express train that was running from Mangaluru to Thiruvananthapuram. The incident occured at a distance of 40 km from Thiruvananthapuram railway station. As the mishap occurred on the goods bogie of the train, no injuries to any passengers were reported.

The train was stopped immediately after noticing fire in the goods bogie and all the passengers were evacuated safely. Fire service personnel who reached the spot within no time put the fire off and prevented any further loss of property or life.

Earlier Report

Kasargod: Fire erupts on Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram train, alert passengers avert tragedy

Kasargod, Jan 17: A fire mishap occurred on Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram Express train at around 7.45 am on Sunday January 17.

No injuries have been reported so far.

The fire was noticed in the goods bogie.

The incident occurred when the train reached Varkala of Thiruvananthapuram. Passengers on the train, who noticed the fire, pulled the emergency chain and stopped the train, thus averting what could have been a major tragedy.

The bogie in which the fire was noticed was separated from the other compartments to prevent the spread of the fire.

Locals, passengers, and fire service personnel worked together to put off the fire. The fire was doused after some effort.

All passengers on the train are reported to be safe.