Anakapalli: Passenger killed after fire breaks out on Tata–Ernakulam Express near Elamanchili

Anakapalli: A 70-year-old passenger was killed when two air-conditioned coaches of the Tata–Ernakulam Express caught fire near Elamanchili in Anakapalli district in the early hours of Monday.

The incident triggered panic among passengers and led to large-scale disruption of train services on the busy Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada route.

One passenger charred to death

Railway officials later confirmed that one passenger travelling in the B1 AC coach was charred to death. The deceased was identified as Chandrasekhar Sundar (70), a resident of Vijayawada.

No other fatalities were reported, though passengers lost all their belongings in the two affected coaches. Ambulances were rushed to the station as a precautionary measure.

Fire breaks out after midnight

The mishap occurred around 1.30 am after the train crossed Duvvada while heading towards Ernakulam. Flames erupted in the B1 and M2 AC coaches located next to the pantry car. The loco pilots noticed the fire near a point close to Elamanchili and immediately brought the train to a halt at the station.

Before fire personnel could reach the spot, the blaze spread rapidly, completely gutting both coaches. Thick smoke engulfed the area, leaving passengers confused and terrified.

Passengers flee coaches amid chaos

As smoke filled the compartments, passengers rushed out of the coaches and ran towards the station premises in panic. With visibility reduced and no clarity on the extent of the fire, scenes of chaos prevailed for several minutes. The train reached Anakapalli nearly four hours behind schedule due to the incident.

Suspected brake failure

Preliminary information suggests that the fire may have been caused by a brake-related issue in the B1 AC coach near Narsingaballi after the train departed Anakapalli. Railway authorities said the exact cause would be established only after a detailed technical investigation.

Firefighting operations

Firefighting teams from Anakapalli, Elamanchili, and Nakkapalli reached the spot and worked for several hours to douse the flames. Senior railway officials arrived at the station to review the situation and oversee relief and restoration measures.

Around 2,000 passengers were forced to wait on the station premises for hours in the cold night.

Coaches removed, train resumes journey

In the aftermath of the fire, rail traffic on the Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada section was temporarily suspended. After 3.30 am, railway officials detached the two burnt coaches and rearranged passengers in the remaining coaches.

Passengers from the damaged coaches were shifted to Samarlakota station in three APSRTC buses. Two replacement AC coaches were later attached there, and the train resumed its onward journey to Ernakulam.

Several trains delayed

The accident resulted in delays to several trains operating between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. Some services were halted at Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, and Tuni stations until normal operations were gradually restored.

Railway authorities have ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident to ascertain the cause of the fire and to prevent recurrence.

Railways have set up Helpline Numbers to provide assistance / train running information etc:

Elamanchili - 7815909386

Anakapalle - 7569305669

TUNI - 7815909479

Samalkot - 7382629990

Rajahmundry - 088 - 32420541, 088 - 32420543

Eluru - 7569305268

Vijayawada - 0866 - 2575167