The explosion, which happened at around 4.30 am as passengers sought to brew tea, claimed the lives of nine pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh and injured eight others.
Chennai: According to a top source, the railways have started a formal investigation into the Saturday night train carriage fire that claimed the lives of nine people at the Madurai railway junction in Tamil Nadu.
On Sunday, August 27, 2023, in Madurai, police officers stand watch at the scene of a train fire disaster where forensic experts are conducting an investigation for the second day. In the tragedy, nine persons died and numerous others suffered injuries. (PTI) Police officers stand watch at the scene of a train fire accident in Madurai on Sunday, August 27, 2023, where forensic experts are conducting an investigation for the second day. In the tragedy, nine persons died and numerous others suffered injuries. (PTI)
The official stated that it would take at least a month to finish the investigation into the incident that occurred after a “illegally smuggled gas cylinder” exploded inside the carriage.
“I have launched a statutory investigation into the event and have recorded the passenger comments to learn how the fire originated and spread. The investigation will continue, Southern Circle Commissioner of Railway Safety A. M. Chowdhary assured reporters.
He stated that it would take at least a month to finish the investigation and hand in the report to the authorities.
The explosion, which happened at around 4.30 am as passengers sought to brew tea, claimed the lives of nine pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh and injured eight others. According to a Southern Railway representative, the coach, which was reserved by a “private party” and departed Lucknow on August 17, carried 63 people: 55 passengers and 8 assistants. The pilgrimage was taking place at Rameswaram, a seaside community in Tamil Nadu’s southeast.
Any potential conspiracy theory was dismissed by Chowdhary. I don’t currently perceive any conspiracy, he declared.
A senior member of the railway police reported that officers have focused on a small number of passengers who took combustible objects into the train. The officer, who wished to remain unnamed, stated, “We are determining the contribution of each individual in the accident.”
After inspectors discovered firewood and coal inside the coach on Saturday, additional director general of the railway police V Vanitha announced that the tour’s organizer will be charged with negligence. “After the passengers started the stove, a fire broke out. The carriage included coal and firewood, according to Vanitha.
According to the route’s length and price, the Indian Railways permits passengers to reserve “private coaches” on trains. Then, other trains are connected to such a coach to assist it in traveling the distance of its voyage.
The private train in this instance was last connected to the Punalur-Madras Express on Friday, arrived in Madurai early on Saturday, and was then due to be connected to the Ananthapuri Express on Sunday, which would take it to the Chennai Egmore station. It would then make its way to Chennai Central station where it would connect to the Lucknow Express in order to return to Lucknow on August 29.
Harish Kumar Bhasin (60), who managed the Bhasin Tour and Travels agency in Sitapur and made the travel arrangements via the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website, was one of the fatalities, according to officials.
Since the fire started when the private coach was parked in the Madurai railway junction bay, away from other cars, no other trains nor operations were hampered, the officials added.
Source- Hindustan times
Link- https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/statutory-inquiry-begins-into-madurai-train-fire-nine-killed-one-month-to-complete-no-conspiracy-suspected-101693162418251.html
