Fire Breaks Out on Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express in Andhra Pradesh

A fire broke out on the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express in Andhra Pradesh, prompting immediate action from railway officials and the establishment of helpline numbers for passengers. The incident occurred early Monday morning, affecting two coaches and leading to the evacuation of passengers. Tragically, one passenger was found deceased. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire, with senior railway officials on-site to manage the situation. Read on for more details about the incident and the response measures taken.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 29, 2025, 13:02 IST

Incident Overview

Visakhapatnam, Dec 29: A fire erupted in the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express early Monday morning at Yelamanchili, Andhra Pradesh, prompting the Railways to establish helpline numbers for passenger assistance and train status updates.

Helpline Numbers Established

South Central Railway (SCR) has provided the following helpline contacts: Yelamanchili – 7815909386, Anakapalli – 7569305669, Tuni – 7815909479, Samalkot – 7382629990, Rajahmundry - 088 – 32420541, 088 – 32420543, Eluru – 7569305268, and Vijayawada - 0866 – 2575167.

Details of the Fire Incident

The SCR reported that the fire broke out in Train No 18189 at approximately 12:45 a.m. as it approached Yelamanchili Railway Station. The blaze affected the B1 and M2 coaches.

Railway personnel acted promptly, notifying the Fire Brigade, which arrived quickly to extinguish the flames. Officials also facilitated the safe evacuation of passengers from the train.

Response and Precautionary Measures

Officials detached the affected coaches and removed an additional AC III Tier Coach (M1) as a safety measure. The remaining train is being relocated to Samalkot Railway Station, where three empty coaches will be added to the formation.

Passengers from the impacted coaches are being transported to Samalkot Railway Station via bus services.

Investigation Underway

Senior officials, including the Commissioner of Railway Safety and the General Manager of South Central Railway, are on-site to oversee the situation. A forensic and medical team is also dispatched to investigate the cause of the fire and assess any casualties.

Local authorities are coordinating with the Railways to ensure all necessary safety measures are in place.

Casualty Report

According to local police, a deceased passenger was discovered in one of the damaged coaches, identified as Chandrsekhar Sundaram, 70, from Vijayawada. At the time of the incident, there were 82 passengers in the B-1 coach and 75 in the M-2 coach.