Garib Rath Express catches fire mid-journey

Digital Desk

A fire broke out on the Garib Rath train traveling from Amritsar to Saharsa in Bihar on Saturday morning near Sirhind station in Ludhiana, Punjab. Preliminary reports indicate that the fire started in AC coach number 19 due to a short circuit. Several businessmen from Ludhiana were travelling in the coach.

The loco pilot immediately applied the emergency brake, bringing the train to a halt. Passengers in the affected coach quickly evacuated, leaving their belongings behind. In the chaos, several passengers sustained minor injuries. Railway and police teams reached the spot promptly, and the fire was brought under control within an hour.

The railway issued a statement confirming that there were no casualties in the incident and that the train will resume its journey shortly.

Fire reported at 7 AM

According to passengers, the train crossed Sirhind station around 7 AM when smoke was seen rising from coach number 19. A passenger immediately raised an alarm and pulled the chain. Flames emerged along with the smoke, causing panic among passengers.

Passengers injured, some belongings left behind

Railway, fire brigade, and police teams reached the scene and initiated rescue operations. Before the teams could fully intervene, passengers had started evacuating the coach, resulting in some injuries. Several passengers also had to leave their belongings behind.

Passengers from nearby coach also evacuated

Seeing the fire in coach number 19, passengers from adjacent coaches also evacuated. Train staff, including the TTE and loco pilot, arrived at the scene and immediately informed railway control.

Mukesh Gautam, a passenger traveling in coach 18, said that people ran from coach 19 toward coach 18 as smoke filled the compartment. A passenger pulled the chain, stopping the train in time, allowing passengers to move safely to nearby coaches.

Coach 19 separated from train

During the rescue operation, coach 19 was detached from the train. By that time, part of coach 18 had also caught fire, causing damage to half of it. Coach 19 was completely burnt before the fire was fully extinguished.

Railway confirms no casualties

In an official statement, the railway said that at around 7:30 AM, a fire broke out in a coach of train number 12204 (Amritsar-Saharsa) near Sirhind station. Railway officials promptly transferred passengers to other coaches and quickly controlled the fire. The train will resume its journey shortly, and no casualties were reported.