A coach of the Patna Fast Passenger Train caught fire and was completely gutted Monday morning at Sasaram railway station [1].
The incident caused widespread panic among passengers and staff on the platform. Because the fire occurred at a busy transit hub, the event highlights the persistent risks of electrical failures in older railway rolling stock.
The blaze broke out around six am [1] on Monday, May 18, 2026 [2]. The train was positioned on platform six [3] at the station located in the Rohtas district of Bihar.
Witnesses said that the fire spread rapidly through the coach, leading to a scene of chaos as passengers scrambled to safety. Railway staff and passengers at the station responded to the emergency before the fire brigade arrived to contain the flames [1].
Preliminary assessments indicate that a short circuit is the suspected cause of the fire [1]. While the coach was entirely destroyed, the fire brigade managed to prevent the blaze from spreading to other parts of the train, or the station infrastructure.
Authorities have not yet released a full report on the extent of the damage or if any injuries were sustained during the evacuation. The focus remains on the suspected electrical failure that triggered the incident [1].
“A coach of the Patna Fast Passenger Train caught fire and was completely gutted”
The destruction of a full coach due to a suspected short circuit underscores the critical need for modernized electrical systems and more frequent safety audits within the Indian railway network. Such incidents at major stations like Sasaram can disrupt regional connectivity and raise concerns regarding the age and maintenance of passenger carriages.
