A major fire incident was reported at the Sasaram railway station on Monday morning, causing significant panic among passengers and railway staff, while the fire broke out in one of the coaches of the Sasaram-Patna Fast Passenger train, which was stationed at platform number 6. According to the initial reports, the incident occurred around 6 in the morning, just as the train was preparing for its journey towards Patna via the Ara route. The sudden appearance of smoke and flames led to a chaotic situation at the station, with passengers running for safety to avoid the spreading blaze.
Details of the Incident and Emergency Response
The train, which operates on the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Gaya rail section, became the center of a major emergency when one of its bogies caught fire. Witnesses described a scene of absolute terror as the flames quickly engulfed the coach. The fire department was immediately alerted, and they rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. After intense efforts by the fire brigade and railway personnel, the fire was eventually extinguished, but not before one coach was completely reduced to ashes. To prevent the fire from spreading further to the rest of the train, the affected coach was detached from the other bogies by the railway technical team.
Official Statement and Investigation
RPF Inspector Sanjeev Kumar provided details regarding the incident, stating that the fire has been successfully brought under control after hard work by the emergency teams. He confirmed that there were no casualties or injuries reported among the passengers, which came as a significant relief to the authorities. Preliminary investigations suggest that a short circuit might have been the primary cause of the fire. The railway administration has officially launched a detailed probe into the matter to determine the exact sequence of events and identify any technical failures that led to the blaze. The RPF and local police are coordinating to ensure the safety of the area while the investigation continues.
Allegations of Negligence and Public Anger
Despite the successful containment of the fire, the incident has sparked intense anger among local residents and railway passengers. Many have raised serious questions regarding the safety preparedness at the Sasaram railway station. Eyewitnesses alleged that the damage could have been Notably minimized if the railway management had acted promptly and if the necessary equipment was functional, while according to the locals, the pipeline installed for refilling water in the trains was completely dry at the time of the emergency. On top of that, it was claimed that the fire extinguishers available at the station were empty and lacked the necessary gas to fight the flames. This perceived negligence allowed the fire to spread rapidly in the initial stages, leading to the total destruction of the coach, while the passengers expressed their frustration, stating that such lapses in safety protocols could have led to a much larger tragedy if the train had been in motion or more crowded.
