A fire broke out on the Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express on Sunday morning, forcing the evacuation of all passengers [4].
The incident disrupted one of India's most critical rail corridors. Because the fire occurred on the Delhi-Mumbai route, the emergency halted traffic in the West Central Railway's Kota Division, affecting multiple transit schedules.
The blaze occurred on Train No. 12431 [1] between the Luni Richha and Vikramgarh Alot stations near Ratlam [2]. Reports indicate the fire started in the B-1 AC coach [2]. While some reports state the fire was limited to a single coach [2], other reports suggest two coaches were affected [5].
Emergency crews responded to the scene to manage the evacuation of all passengers [4]. The train was positioned in the Kota Division of the West Central Railway at the time of the outbreak [2].
Officials have not yet reported the cause of the fire [1]. The suspension of rail traffic on the Delhi-Mumbai route remained in effect as authorities worked to secure the area, and assess the damage to the rolling stock [2].
Rail personnel and emergency responders coordinated the movement of passengers away from the affected AC coaches to ensure safety. The Rajdhani Express is one of the premier long-distance services in India, typically carrying passengers across vast distances with high-speed priority.
“All passengers were evacuated after a fire erupted in the B-1 AC coach.”
The disruption of the Delhi-Mumbai route, a primary artery for Indian rail transport, highlights the vulnerability of high-speed corridors to technical failures. The discrepancy in reporting regarding whether one or two coaches were damaged suggests an evolving assessment of the fire's spread, which may influence the subsequent safety investigation into the AC coach's electrical or mechanical systems.
