At least eight people were killed and more than 20 were injured in Tamil Nadu after a fire broke out inside a stationary train compartment in Madurai railway station on Saturday morning.
The Southern Railway said an “illegal gas cylinder” led to the blaze in the “private party coach” that arrived from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. The party coach was detached and kept at the Madurai Stabling line.
An ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh will be given to the deceased’s family, said the Southern Railway.
The fire broke out at 5.15 am on Saturday and the Fire service personnel who arrived at the spot half an hour later put down the blaze by 7.15 am, a press release from Southern Railway stated.
“This is a private party coach that was attached at Nagercoil Junction yesterday (Aug 25) by train no. 16730 (Punalur-Madurai Exp). Party coach was detached and kept at Madurai Stabling line. The passengers in the private party coach have illegally smuggled gas cylinder and this has caused the fire. Many passengers had got out of the coach on noticing fire. Some passengers had got down at platform itself,” the release said.
“The party coach had started their journey from Lucknow on 17th August. They are scheduled to return to Chennai tomorrow by T.no. 16824 Kollam. Chennai Egmore Ananthapuri express. And return to Lucknow from there,” it added.
