CHENNAI — At least nine people were killed and 20 others injured on Saturday after a fire erupted inside the coach of a passenger train at the Madurai railway station in Tamil Nadu.
Railways sources told IANS that the incident occurred on the Lucknow-Rameswaram Express in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The six victims from Uttar Pradesh were on a pilgrimage tour to Rameswaram, the sources added.
There were a total of 55 passengers in the affected coach, which was attached at Nagercoil on Friday.
The blast of a gas cylinder, which was illegally smuggled inside the coach for cooking purposes, caused the fire, the sources told IANS.
Meanwhile, of the 20 injured persons, four are said to be in serious condition.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]The mishap occurred when the train was stationed at a yard, 1 km out of the Madurai railway station and passengers were about to leave for the Meenakshi temple for darshan.
Fire and Rescue services department reached the spot and doused the fire.Many people had already alighted when the train had reached the Madurai railway station.
Madurai District Collector Sangeetha told media persons that the injured have been shifted to Government Rajaji memorial hospital and treatment is is underway.
She also said that the cause of the fire will be further probed.
Stalin announces INR 3 Lakh solatium to bereaved families
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday announced an ex-gratia of INR 3 lakh each to the families of nine passengers who died in the train fire mishap in Madurai.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]In a statement, Chief Minister Stalin said that he has ensured best treatment for the injured undergoing treatment at the Government Rajaji government hospital, Madurai.
Stalin also deputed Tamil Nadu Commercial Taxes, Registration minister, P. Moorthy to reach Madurai and to attend to the necessities of the families of the deceased and the injured.
The Indian Railways have also announced a compensation of INR 10 lakh to the families of those deceased.
A private party coach attached to a passenger train carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh caught fire early this morning in which nine people lost their lives.