Fire Breaks Out in Rajdhani Express Near Ratlam: Delhi-Mumbai Rail Route Suspended, 68 Passengers Deboarded Safely

Early morning blaze in AC coach triggers emergency response; no casualties reported

A fire erupted in an AC coach of the Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express (12431) during the early hours of Sunday, forcing authorities to temporarily suspend traffic along the busy Delhi-Mumbai rail route.

Fire Breaks Out

The incident occurred around 5:15 am between Luniricha and Vikramgarh Alot stations in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district, before the premium train could cross into Rajasthan. According to railway officials, the fire started in coach B1 of the train.

Emergency hooters were immediately sounded at Kota Junction following initial reports. Rescue and relief teams were dispatched to the location without delay.

Passengers Evacuated

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Saurabh Jain confirmed that 68 passengers were onboard the affected coach. "No casualties or injuries have been reported so far," he said.

The train guard first noticed the fire and promptly alerted the loco pilot, officials said. The train was brought to an immediate halt, and railway staff managed to evacuate all passengers from the affected compartment within approximately 15 minutes.

Despite the swift evacuation, flames spread rapidly through the coach within minutes.

Delhi-Mumbai Route Hit

Rail traffic on the crucial Delhi-Mumbai corridor was temporarily stopped as a precautionary measure following the blaze. The train's power supply was disconnected, and the affected coach was detached from the rest of the train.

The Rajdhani Express had departed from Ratlam Junction at around 3:45 am on Sunday, with its next scheduled halt at Kota Junction at 8:45 am. The fire broke out near Vikramgarh Alot station before the train could reach Rajasthan.

Investigation Underway

Senior officers and technical teams from the Kota railway division have reached the site. Restoration work is currently underway, though officials did not provide a timeline for when normal traffic would resume on the route.

Railway authorities have launched an investigation to determine what caused the fire in the AC coach. Initial reports indicate the blaze engulfed two coaches of the train before it could be brought under control.

Lift Malfunction Traps 10 Passengers for 3 Hours at Rewa Station

Passengers, including woman doctor and toddler, stuck between floors due to technical glitch; no warning signs at platform

Ten passengers arriving on the Itwari train found themselves trapped inside a lift on platform number 2 at Rewa railway station for nearly three hours on Wednesday, triggering panic and anger among family members waiting outside.

The group, which included a woman doctor, a three-year-old girl, and several elderly passengers, entered the lift around 8:30 am unaware that maintenance work was underway. Within seconds of the doors closing, the lift came to a grinding halt between floors.

No Warning Signs

According to officials, the lift had been scheduled for routine maintenance. However, no information board or cautionary signage was placed at the entrance. Passengers and relatives said there was no indication that the lift was non-operational.

“We just walked in like any other day. Nobody told us not to use it,” said a relative of one trapped passenger who declined to be named.

Rescue Effort Takes Hours

Station officials received the first alert around 9 am. A team of railway technicians arrived shortly after, but the absence of a backup power mechanism complicated the rescue.

For nearly three hours, stranded passengers remained inside the confined space with limited ventilation. Railway staff managed to create a small gap in the lift door to pass juice packets and water bottles to keep the group hydrated and calm.

Local authorities confirmed that the woman doctor inside assisted fellow passengers, particularly the toddler and elderly members, helping manage anxiety during the wait.

Officials Arrive at Scene

Sanjeev Shukla, representative of the local MP, reached the site along with senior railway officers as news of the incident spread across the station. By late morning, a medical team dispatched by the Chief Medical Health Officer had also arrived.

Technical repairs were completed around 11:30 am, after which all 10 passengers were safely evacuated. No injuries were reported.

Health Check-Up Conducted

The medical team examined each passenger on the platform. Officials confirmed that all were stable, though some showed signs of mild distress and fatigue.

“We have conducted preliminary checks. Everyone is safe. Those requiring follow-up have been advised accordingly,” a CMHO representative said.

 Questions Over Passenger Safety

The incident has raised concerns about basic passenger amenities and safety protocols at Rewa station, which sees regular footfall from long-distance trains like the Itwari Express. Local residents and passenger groups have questioned why a lift undergoing maintenance was left accessible without barricades or warning boards.

Railway officials have assured that an internal inquiry will examine the sequence of events and why standard safety measures were not followed.

“Responsible staff will be identified. We will ensure such lapses do not recur,” a senior railway officer told reporters at the station.

A Tikamgarh bus accident on Tuesday morning left 11 passengers injured after a private passenger bus overturned near Bada Gaon Road, around five kilometres from the district headquarters. The bus, operated by a private transport company, was travelling from Indore to Tikamgarh when it reportedly lost control and toppled near a crossing close to Hanuman Temple under the Kotwali police station limits.

According to preliminary inputs from local administration, the injured passengers were immediately shifted to the district hospital for treatment. Officials confirmed that while most of the injured sustained minor wounds, a few passengers suffered head injuries requiring closer medical attention. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the circumstances that led to the mishap.

Accident Near Temple Crossing

The incident took place during the early hours when the bus reached a busy crossing area near the Hanuman Temple. Eyewitnesses informed local authorities that the vehicle appeared to have been moving at a moderate speed before suddenly losing balance and overturning on the roadside.

Police teams and emergency response units reached the spot shortly after being alerted. The area was cordoned off to ensure smooth rescue operations and traffic movement.

Injured Shifted Hospital

All 11 injured passengers were transported to the district hospital without delay. Medical teams at the facility began immediate treatment upon arrival. Hospital sources indicated that a majority of the injured are stable, while those with head injuries are under observation.

Officials stated that no fatalities have been reported so far. The quick response by ambulance services helped prevent further complications among the injured passengers.

Administrative Response On-Site

Senior district officials, including the Collector and Sub-Divisional Officer, visited the hospital to take stock of the situation and meet the injured passengers. They interacted with medical staff and ensured that proper treatment arrangements were in place.

The administration has directed hospital authorities to provide all necessary medical assistance without delay. Officials also reviewed the condition of each patient admitted following the Tikamgarh bus accident.

Police Investigation Underway

Kotwali police have launched a formal inquiry into the cause of the accident. Initial focus remains on driver statements, road conditions, and vehicle maintenance records. According to police officials, the exact reason behind the loss of control will be ascertained after a detailed investigation.

Authorities are also examining whether overspeeding, mechanical failure, or road conditions contributed to the mishap. Statements from passengers and the driver are being recorded.

Possible Causes Examined

Preliminary assessment suggests that the bus may have become unstable while negotiating the turn near the temple crossing. However, officials have not ruled out technical failure or human error.

Transport department officials are expected to inspect the vehicle to check for mechanical issues. The investigation will also consider road design and visibility factors at the accident site.

Passenger Safety Concerns

The incident has once again highlighted concerns over passenger safety on intercity routes in Madhya Pradesh. Regular commuters have raised questions about vehicle maintenance and monitoring of private bus operators. Authorities have indicated that stricter checks may be introduced if lapses are found in compliance or safety standards.

Next Steps in Probe

The administration has assured that a detailed report will be prepared after completing the investigation. Action will be taken based on findings from police, transport authorities, and medical reports.

Further updates are expected once the driver’s statement and technical inspection results are reviewed. The Tikamgarh bus accident has prompted renewed focus on road safety measures across the region.

The Tikamgarh bus accident remains under active investigation, with officials closely monitoring both the medical condition of the injured and the technical assessment of the vehicle involved.

The tragic collision at New York's LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada Express flight has claimed two lives and left several others injured, disrupting operations at one of the city's busiest hubs.

Air Canada Express Flight Collides with Fire Truck at LaGuardia, 2 Dead

An incoming Air Canada Express regional jet struck a Port Authority fire truck on the runway late Sunday night, killing the pilot and co-pilot while injuring ground personnel, according to multiple reports from US authorities and media sources.

Fatal Runway Collision

The incident unfolded around 11:38 pm local time (about 10:08 am IST on March 23) when the Bombardier CRJ-900, operating as Flight AC8646 from Montreal, collided with the emergency vehicle on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in Queens, New York.

The aircraft sustained severe damage, with its nose ripped off and the forward fuselage badly mangled, as shown in unverified social media footage and photographs from the scene.

Casualties and Injuries

The two fatalities were the pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit, sources close to the investigation told US media outlets including the New York Post. Reports also indicated serious injuries to personnel on the fire truck, with some accounts mentioning four firefighters or Port Authority officers critically hurt, including broken limbs and other trauma.

The flight carried 72 passengers and four crew members, Jazz Aviation confirmed in an early statement. All passengers were safely evacuated, though some may have required medical checks. No passenger fatalities have been reported so far.

Sequence of Events

Air traffic control audio circulating online captured urgent commands to "stop, stop, stop" as the collision became imminent. The fire truck was reportedly crossing the runway or responding to a separate incident when the jet, which had just landed and was rolling out, struck it at an estimated speed of around 39 kmph.

Low visibility and wet conditions may have played a role, though officials are yet to confirm contributing factors.

Official Response and Investigation

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) immediately issued a ground stop for all arrivals and departures at LaGuardia, citing an aircraft emergency. The measure, initially set to last several hours, carried a high probability of extension, leading to widespread diversions and cancellations.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, activated emergency protocols. Jazz Aviation, the regional partner operating the flight for Air Canada, acknowledged the incident and said it was cooperating fully.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a formal investigation, dispatching a go-team to the site to examine the circumstances, including air traffic communications, vehicle movements, and weather data.

Impact on Airport Operations

LaGuardia, a key domestic gateway for New York City, handles heavy traffic volumes daily. The closure triggered significant disruptions, with arriving flights diverted to nearby airports like Newark or JFK, or returned to origin. Passengers faced long delays amid already strained US air travel conditions.

Aviation experts point out that such ground collisions, though uncommon, can ripple across the national network, exacerbating congestion.

What Lies Ahead

Authorities continue to assess the runway and surrounding areas for safety before resuming operations. The NTSB investigation is expected to take months, focusing on communication breakdowns, ground vehicle protocols, and possible human or systemic errors.

Air Canada and Jazz Aviation have yet to release detailed statements on support for affected passengers and families. Further updates will follow as more information emerges from the ongoing probe.

This incident underscores the risks at busy urban airports where aircraft and emergency vehicles operate in close proximity.