Daijiworld Media Network - Tiruvallur

Tiruvallur, Jul 13: A major fire broke out on four wagons of a diesel-laden goods train near Tiruvallur railway station early Sunday morning, causing panic in nearby areas and severely affecting rail services in and out of Chennai.

The fire, which began around 5:30 am, sent massive flames and black smoke billowing into the sky. Fire and rescue teams swiftly reached the scene and managed to control the blaze after a tense firefighting operation.

"There is no danger to life at this point," confirmed Superintendent of Police A Srinivasa Perumal. Chief of Fire Services Seema Aggarwal said, “Our teams are working continuously to extinguish the fire. Since it’s diesel, it’s a challenge. Additional reinforcements have been deployed.”

The train, en route from Manali to the Tirupati region, caught fire near the station, forcing precautionary evacuations of residents in the vicinity. Fortunately, there were no casualties or damage to nearby structures.

Train services were thrown into disarray, with Southern Railways announcing the cancellation of eight trains from Chennai and the diversion of five others. Efforts are underway to restore normal operations. The cause of the fire is under investigation.