Fire Erupts in Rajdhani Express Coach, Passengers Evacuated Safely

A fire broke out in an AC coach of the Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express near Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, early Sunday morning. Prompt action by railway officials led to the safe evacuation of all 68 passengers aboard the affected coach. The fire, which intensified quickly, raised concerns about rail safety, especially following a similar incident just days prior. Authorities are investigating the cause, with preliminary reports suggesting a possible short circuit. The incident caused significant disruptions on the New Delhi-Mumbai rail route, affecting multiple trains.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 17, 2026, 12:33 IST

Emergency Evacuation Following Train Fire

People gather after a fire broke out in an AC coach of the Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express in MP, on Sunday. (Photo:PTI)

Indore/Guwahati, May 17: An early morning fire occurred in an AC coach of the Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express near Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, causing panic among passengers and leading to a swift emergency evacuation by railway officials.

Railway authorities reported that the fire broke out around 5:15 AM in the B-1 coach of Train No. 12431 while it was en route between Alot and Lunirichha stations in the Kota division.

At the time of the incident, the train was carrying 68 passengers in the affected coach.

According to officials, the train guard noticed smoke coming from the undercarriage and quickly alerted the loco pilot, who managed to stop the train promptly.

Within minutes, personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and onboard staff initiated an evacuation, successfully getting all passengers off the coach in approximately 15 minutes.

The fire escalated quickly, consuming the B-1 AC coach and threatening the adjacent SLR luggage brake van. Thick smoke and flames were visible from afar, heightening the alarm among passengers.

Mukesh Kumar, the PRO for the Ratlam division, stated that the affected coaches were detached from the train as a precaution, and the overhead electric supply was cut off to mitigate further risks.

Fire brigade teams and railway emergency responders arrived swiftly and managed to control the fire.

Officials confirmed that all passengers were safe, with no injuries or fatalities reported.

Senior railway officials, including the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Ratlam, were present at the scene to oversee the rescue and firefighting efforts.

An accident relief train was dispatched to support the emergency response.

Passengers evacuated from the damaged coach were temporarily placed in other coaches for their continued journey to Kota.

Railway officials announced that an additional coach would be added at Kota station to restore the train's full capacity.

This incident also caused significant disruptions to rail traffic on the busy New Delhi-Mumbai route for several hours, with multiple trains, including the Mumbai-Jaipur Superfast Express, halted at nearby stations until the tracks were cleared and safety checks were completed.

While the precise cause of the fire remains under investigation, initial reports suggest that a short circuit may have been responsible. Railway authorities have initiated a thorough inquiry into the incident.

This fire incident follows another railway mishap on May 15, when two AC coaches of the Hyderabad-Jaipur Special Express caught fire at Nampally Railway Station, raising new concerns regarding rail safety and the maintenance of electrical systems in coaches.