Fire in Tamilnadu Express train on 30.07.2012 at 0420 hr

In a train fire incident on 30.07.2012 at about 0420 hr in Tamilnadu Express train that travels from New Delhi to Chennai, 32 passengers died and 28 received burn injuries, a few them in critical state. The incident took place immediately after the train crossed the Nellore railway station (the train after a stop at Vijayawada stops only at its terminal stop i.e. Chennai central, running nonstop for 7 hours between these two stations  covering 430 km distance). The station master or others at Nellore did not see any thing wrong while the train passed but an alert gateman of a level crossing at about a  kilometer from Nellore railway station saw flames from the toilet of S-11 coach and alerted the station. When someone pulled chain, the train stopped after travelling for about 5 minutes. 

Various news reports say the train travelling at 80-110 kmph and at the time of the incident, all four doors of the coach and windows are in closed condition due to rains. A loud sound was heard between berths 40 & 44 as told by survivors and the escape of passengers inside was restricted due to unauthorized passengers sleeping on aisle in the coach, fire in the vestibule connecting S-11 and S-10 coaches, jamming of the three doors out of four and one out of two emergency escape windows due to heat. (In every coach, generally side lower berths will be under reservation-against-cancellation (RAC) with two passengers sitting on the berth and it is likely that one of the two in every berth may sleep on the aisle or space between main berths). Few lucky escaped through S-12 coach. Piling of dead bodies near the door is an indication of inability of passengers to escape due to jamming of doors. At the time of the incident, a long goods train with two engines passed for five minutes and thus nobody could escape for that period from the emergency window by which time many succumbed due to asphyxiation and burns. It is reported that fire tenders reach by 0445 hour and used gas cutters to open the doors for fire fighting.

Various theories are reported for the reason as below.

1. Finding of a kerosene can wrapped in a jute bag in the gutted coach, leading to sabotage theory.
2. Short circuit in the battery power supply unit, with sparks flying to ceiling fan near the gate leading to spread of fire. It is reported that 110 V supply is used in the trains and this is unlikely to lead to short circuit.

Similar fire earlier on 31.07.2008 at 0000 hr in Goutami Express near Kesamudram in Warangal district with fire starting from the toilet of S-10 coach spreading the fire to S-11, S-12 caused 32 deaths.

A committee constituted by former railway minister with Dr.Anil Kakodkar as Chairman observed that most of the train fire incidents took place between 0200 and 0600 hr due to lack of proper detection, warning and fire fighting system and recommended many measures including fire detectors as smoke detectors can't be effective in running train, banning of use of gas cylinders for cooking in pantry cars, etc. Though, smoking is prohibited, still passenger smoke in the toilets or near the doors and this too can lead to fires. 

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article3702051.ece?homepage=true

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3704655.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3704654.ece Tamilnadu Express incident list

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article3704435.ece About Indian Railways guidelines on fire safety

http://m.indianexpress.com/news/fire-in-train-coach-kills-at-least-25-in-nellore/981358/

http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/tamil-nadu-express-fire-toll-mounts-to-32-may-rise-further_790551.html