MARGAO: On Wednesday morning, a disconcerting incident occurred on the Mandovi Express train en route to Mumbai when a minor fire erupted beneath one of the rear coaches, requiring passengers to be evacuated. The train was swiftly brought to a halt, approximately half a kilometre from Sawantwadi station, as railway personnel took charge of the situation.
Konkan Railway employees intervened and successfully contained the fire that was believed to have originated due to a technical issue in the braking system.
The ‘Mandovi Express’ commenced its journey from Margao to Mumbai without any notable incidents until trouble struck as the train was heading towards Sawantwadi. Flames suddenly emerged from beneath the generator car, which serves as the final compartment for disabled passengers and the guard.
The train was immediately stopped at Sawantwadi station, and the railway staff within the generator coach quickly notified station officials about the fire. Alarmed female passengers from the coach hurriedly evacuated to the platform. Prompt action utilising fire extinguisher bottles helped bring the situation under control.
The exact cause of the fire remained unclear to railway employees. However, a strong smell of burnt brake pads in the disc brake of the coach indicated a potential brake jam, leading to the spark that triggered the fire.
Approximately six fire extinguisher bottles were deployed to tackle the flames. Regrettably, passengers experienced inconvenience due to the incident. After an hour, once the coach’s wheels had sufficiently cooled down, the journey resumed.
