One person died after two coaches of the Tatanagar–Ernakulam Express caught fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Yalamanchili area early Monday. The incident took place near Yalamanchili, around 66 km from Visakhapatnam.
A senior police official said information about the fire was received at about 12.45 am. Flames were seen in the B1 and M2 AC coaches, which were located next to the pantry car.
There were 82 passengers in one affected coach and 76 in the other when the fire broke out. The loco pilots noticed the flames and immediately stopped the train. Passengers rushed out of the coaches as thick smoke spread, creating panic at the spot.
Before fire engines arrived, both coaches were completely gutted. Firefighters from nearby stations later brought the blaze under control. Ambulances were arranged, and railway officials reviewed the situation on site.
Police said a body was found inside the B1 coach. The deceased was identified as 70-year-old Chandrasekhar Sundar from Vijayawada. All belongings inside the affected coaches were destroyed in the fire.
Train operation hit
Nearly 2,000 passengers were left stranded at the station. Several trains on the Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada route were delayed or halted due to the incident. After the burnt coaches were removed, passengers were shifted and the train later resumed its journey.
A railway spokesperson said the train was halted immediately after the fire was detected and passengers were safely evacuated.
