Early Monday, a fire broke out in two air‑conditioned coaches of the Tatanagar‑Ernakulam Express near Yalamanchili in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district, claiming the life of a 70‑year-old passenger. Flames started in the B1 coach around 12:45 a.m. and quickly spread to the adjacent coach.
The train was promptly halted, allowing most passengers to evacuate safely. Tragically, Chandrasekhar Sundaram from Vijayawada could not escape the blaze and was found dead inside the coach. Around 158 passengers were traveling in the affected compartments, and five others sustained minor injuries.
Fire teams from Anakapalli, Elamanchili, and Nakkapalli rushed to the scene and brought the fire under control after several hours. The damaged coaches were detached, and the remaining train continued its journey to Ernakulam. Passenger belongings inside the gutted coaches were destroyed.
Rail traffic on the Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada section was temporarily disrupted, causing delays for other services. Railway authorities are investigating the cause, with early indications pointing to a possible electrical or mechanical fault. Senior officials from South Central Railway and the Commission of Railway Safety are overseeing the inquiry.
Helplines have been activated for affected passengers and their families, and railway authorities assured that safety measures are being reviewed to prevent future incidents.
