A fire broke out inside a coach of the Sasaram-Patna Passenger train at Sasaram railway station on Monday morning [1].
The incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding railway safety and infrastructure maintenance in the Rohtas district of Bihar. While the lack of casualties prevented a larger tragedy, the total loss of a carriage underscores the volatility of onboard electrical systems.
The blaze began around 6 a.m. local time [2]. Passengers and railway officials said there was immediate panic as flames spread through the coach. Fire-brigade teams arrived at the scene to bring the blaze under control, though one coach was completely gutted by the time the fire was extinguished [3].
East Central Railway officials and investigators from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) have launched a probe into the incident. Preliminary assessments suggest the fire may have been caused by a short circuit [4].
Authorities said zero casualties or injuries were reported during the event [1]. The train was parked at the Sasaram railway station when the fire erupted, which likely aided the rapid evacuation of passengers and the accessibility of emergency services [3].
Railway officials said the investigation will continue to determine the exact origin of the spark. The RPF is currently reviewing the technical condition of the affected coach to see if previous maintenance logs indicated potential risks [4].
“No casualties or injuries reported”
This incident reinforces the critical need for updated electrical safety protocols across India's passenger rail network. The suspicion of a short circuit as the primary cause suggests a potential systemic failure in preventative maintenance, emphasizing that even stationary trains remain vulnerable to electrical fires if infrastructure is degraded.
