Panic gripped hundreds of passengers aboard the Amritsar-New Jalpaiguri Karmabhumi Express (Train No. 12508) when a massive fire broke out across four coaches near Sarai Banjara railway station in Punjab’s Patiala district.
The incident unfolded while the passenger-packed train was in motion. Thick plumes of dark smoke suddenly began billowing from one of the coaches, quickly filling the compartments and causing immediate distress among commuters. Before long, violent flames spread across four interconnected coaches, prompting passengers to scramble for safety as the train travelled down the tracks.
The situation was prevented from spiralling into a severe catastrophe thanks to the train’s built-in safety mechanisms. The emergency system automatically triggered upon detecting the disruption, bringing the moving express train to a controlled halt near Sarai Banjara under the Ambala division. Once the train stopped, passengers safely evacuated the smoke-filled coaches onto the surrounding tracks.
Confirming the incident, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railway, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, stated that alert notifications were quickly dispatched regarding the blaze in four coaches.
“Due to the timely functioning of the safety system, the train stopped, and the fire is being brought under control. All senior officials have reached the spot,” Upadhyay remarked. He further emphasised that no injuries, casualties, or severe bodily harm have been reported following the initial evacuation operations.
Emergency fire tenders and senior Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel arrived shortly after the alarm was raised to contain the blaze. While investigations are ongoing to determine the exact origin of the blaze, early reports suggest an electrical short circuit may have triggered the fire. Authorities are currently making alternative arrangements to transport the affected passengers to their destinations.
