New Delhi: New Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi luggage bay caught fire at Ghaziabad railway station. However, no injury or casualty has been reported. Northern Railway spokesperson Deepak Kumar said the incident occurred at 6.41 AM after a guard of the train noticed smoke in the luggage van. The affected coach was immediately detached from the train.
Fire tenders arrived at the station to douse the flames which started in the luggage-cum-generator car of the train. The train left from the Ghaziabad station at 8.20 AM. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
About 7 am today, generator & luggage compartment of Shatabdi Express caught fire. It was immediately separated from the train. 4 fire tenders doused fire after breaking the window. No casuality, reason unknown on what caused fire, probe underway: Chief Fire Officer Sushil Kumar pic.twitter.com/UWuddlz7UC
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 20, 2021
Earlier this month, nine people died, including rail staffers and fire officials after a fire broke out on the 13th floor of the Eastern Railway’s office in Kolkata.
Focus on Remedial Measures: Railway Minister Tells Officials
Following the incidents of fire breaking out on trains and railway premises, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had directed officials to focus on remedial measures for fire hazards, identify breaches in fire safety and ensure general alertness for passengers smoking on board.”Safety remains the focus area of Railway operations and no one should let the guard down on that front. A thorough review and rechecking of all safety measures in the running of trains needs to be taken up by all concerned,” the minister said at a review meeting on “safety measures”, according to a statement issued by the railway ministry.
The meeting was attended by all board members and general managers of the zonal railways.
While reviewing the safety performance, Goyal advised the officials to focus on remedial measures for safety hazards like fire and ensuring alertness for signals and crossings, the statement said.
He asked the officers to focus on the root-cause analysis of breaches in safety and advised to launch a safety drive.