A massive fire broke out in a diesel-laden goods train near Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu, early Sunday morning, and was fully extinguished after seven hours of intense firefighting.
The blaze gutted 18 tanker wagons, each carrying 70,000 litres of diesel, resulting in the loss of 12.6 lakh litres of fuel worth around ₹12 crore.
The fire erupted at 5:30 AM, shortly after the train began moving out of Tiruvallur station. Southern Railway reported that the fire likely originated in the third wagon.
The loco pilot quickly applied emergency brakes, and the station master cut off overhead power, but flames spread rapidly till the 19th wagon, causing derailments.
18 tankers destroyed, no casualties
All 18 wagons carrying diesel were completely destroyed, leaving behind a row of charred remains. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
The unaffected 30 wagons and the locomotive were safely detached and moved to a secure location by railway staff.
Visuals from the site showed a scorched railway line and tankers reduced to twisted metal. The incident raised alarms about hazardous material transport and the effectiveness of safety procedures.
The fire disrupted operations on the busy Chennai–Arakkonam route. At least 12 trains were either cancelled or short-terminated, while several others were diverted.
Stranded passengers were accommodated in MTC buses arranged by the authorities.
Southern Railway General Manager RN Singh visited the site and reviewed restoration works. Officials said the DOWN line towards Bengaluru and Mangaluru is expected to be restored soon.
Meanwhile, three special investigation teams led by the Additional Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) have been formed to probe the fire.
Preliminary assessments are looking into technical faults and safety lapses during fuel transport.
The Tamil Nadu goods train fire has prompted urgent calls for a review of Indian Railways’ safety protocols in handling hazardous cargo.
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