Massive fire on Rajdhani Express

The major fire accident on the Rajdhani Express, which was travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi, has raised serious concerns about railway passenger safety in India. A major tragedy was avoided because the train was stopped immediately after the fire was noticed, and all 68 passengers in the B-1 coach, where the fire spread, were evacuated safely. The incident took place early Sunday morning near Vikramgarh Alot Railway Station in Madhya Pradesh. The fire reportedly started in the engine and later spread to the adjacent AC coach. Passengers said they were relieved to have escaped with their lives. However, railway authorities have not yet responded to demands for compensation for the belongings destroyed in the fire. Although railway officials usually announce investigations after such incidents, reports prepared by senior railway authorities are often not made public.

According to preliminary findings, the fire first broke out in the engine of the Rajdhani Express. Railway staff quickly detached the burning engine and coach from the rest of the train and disconnected the overhead electric power supply. These actions helped prevent the fire from spreading to other coaches. The Rajdhani Express is one of the most important long-distance trains frequently used by Malayalis travelling to Delhi. The accident has once again highlighted the need for stricter safety inspections on long-distance trains. Earlier this year, more than 60 bikes were destroyed in a fire at the parking area of Thrissur Railway Station. At that time, complaints were raised that parking centres had been set up on railway-owned land near stations without proper fire safety measures. Critics also pointed out that railway authorities have shown more interest in increasing parking fees than in improving safety systems.

One major reason for repeated railway accidents is the failure to implement safety recommendations made in investigation reports. In many cases, even the actual cause of accidents remains unidentified. Soon after the Rajdhani Express fire, another fire incident was reported at Sasaram Railway Station, where a passenger train coach parked at the station was destroyed in a fire. Since no passengers were inside the coach at the time, no casualties were reported. An investigation has also been announced into that incident. One of Kerala’s worst railway disasters was the Peruman Disaster, in which 105 people lost their lives. On July 8, 1988, the Island Express, travelling from Bengaluru to Kanyakumari, fell into the Ashtamudi Lake near Peruman.

The real cause of that accident remains unclear even today. The railway’s first report claimed that a tornado had caused the train to derail from the Peruman bridge. Later, the theory was withdrawn after questions were raised because there had been no strong winds at the time of the accident. More than three decades later, the true reason behind the tragedy still remains unknown. Kerala is among the states that generate high revenue for Indian Railways, mainly because passengers in the state largely travel with valid tickets. In the background of the Rajdhani Express fire accident, there is now a growing demand for urgent and stricter safety inspections on long-distance trains operating from Kerala.