The Indian Railways on Wednesday claimed that a series of recent fire incidents on trains were acts of sabotage allegedly carried out by anti-social elements and not accidental in nature, following investigations into multiple cases across the country.
“Recently, incidents of fire in various trains have come to light. Indian Railways investigated these incidents and found that in several cases, anti-social elements were involved,” a statement issued by the Indian Railways said.
Notably, a fire broke out in two coaches of the Thiruvananthapuram–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express in Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh on May 17, and the very next day a coach of the Sasaram passenger train caught fire in Bihar. No casualties were reported in either incident.
The Railways said that in the incident near Amarpura station in Rajasthan, an individual allegedly tried to set linen and bedding material on fire, leading to the blaze. In another case involving a train from Howrah, railway personnel reportedly recovered a cloth soaked in petrol from a train bathroom during the investigation.
Similarly, in the Rajdhani Express fire incident at Kota, the first signs of flames were reportedly noticed inside a bathroom compartment, prompting further investigation by railway authorities.
Referring to the Sasaram incident, Indian Railways said the affected coaches were empty and there was no power generator present in the train, ruling out certain technical causes. Authorities suspect that a “burning object may have been thrown into the coach from outside.”
The Railways said all such incidents are being treated with utmost seriousness and that the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has intensified investigations to identify those responsible.
The ministry also appealed to passengers to remain vigilant during train journeys and immediately report any suspicious activity. Passengers have been advised to contact the railway helpline number 139 in case of emergencies or suspicious behaviour.
The statement further said that the swift response of railway staff in the Amarpura and Howrah incidents helped avert potentially larger accidents and ensured passenger safety.
