A massive fire broke out on the Delhi-bound Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express early Sunday morning [1].
The incident highlights the ongoing safety challenges facing India's high-speed rail network, where rapid evacuation is critical to preventing mass casualties during coach fires.
The blaze began at approximately 5:15 a.m. [2] on May 17, 2026 [3]. The fire engulfed the B-1 third-AC coach and the adjoining SLR coach [4]. Indian Railways officials and fire-tender crews responded to the scene to extinguish the flames and secure the area.
Reports indicate that 68 passengers were rescued from the affected sections of the train [5]. No injuries were reported following the evacuation. The train, identified as number 12431 [6], was traveling toward the capital when the fire erupted.
There is conflicting information regarding the exact location of the incident. Some reports place the fire between Luni Richha and Vikramgarh Alot stations in the West Central Railway’s Kota Division, near Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh [7]. Other reports state the blaze occurred in Rajasthan’s Kota [8].
Railway officials confirmed the blaze and the successful evacuation of all passengers, but they said they have not yet reported the cause of the fire [9].
“Sixty-eight passengers were rescued from the affected sections of the train.”
The successful evacuation of 68 passengers without injuries suggests that emergency protocols were effectively implemented. However, the lack of an immediate cause for the fire in a premium service like the Rajdhani Express may prompt further scrutiny of rolling stock maintenance and electrical safety standards within the Kota Division.
