Bulletin 1:
Early morning Fire incident in private party booked SL coach(booked online through IRCTC) stabled/parked in Madurai Yard, due to illegal use of cooking gas cylinder by tour party people
Fire was reported in a private party booked individual coach, while it was stabled/parked in Madurai yard, today early morning at 5.15 hours (26.8.23). Immediately fire tenders were called which arrived at 5.45hrs and Fire put off by 07.00 hrs.
No damage to any other coach/asset.
This was a private party booked coach carrying 63 passengers from Lucknow, which arrived at Madurai at 3.47 hrs today morning. Party coach was detached and parked at Madurai Stabling line as per its scheduled itinerary.
While the coach was stabled/parked, some members of the party in the private party coach, were using the illegally smuggled cooking gas cylinder unauthorizedly for preparing tea/snacks, which caused the fire in the stabled/parked coach. Most of the passengers could get out of the coach on noticing fire. Some passengers had already gotten down at the platform before the coach.
The private party coach had started its journey from Lucknow on 17th August and was scheduled to return to Chennai tomorrow by T.no. 16824 express, and thereafter it was to return to Lucknow from there.
A travel agent M/s Bhasin travels, Sitapur had booked this private party coach online through IRCTC. They are strictly not allowed to carry or use any inflammable material like gas cylinders and an undertaking in this respect was furnished by the travel Agency. The coach is meant to be used only for transportation purposes.
Casualty/death :08
Minor injury:08 shifted to hospital immediately.
Ex. Gratia of Rs. 10 lakh being paid to the family of deceased, Rs. 2 lakhs for persons who suffered grievous injuries and Rs.50,000 for simple injuries.
Detailed investigation is on.
(Photographs showing gas cylinder and cooking from accident site & video of rescue operations shared)
Bulletin 2:
Carrying inflammable articles and explosives is a punishable offence under Railways Act
Carrying inflammable articles like gas cylinders, crackers, acid, Kerosene, petrol, thermit welding, stove, etc. and explosives is a punishable offence under sections 67,164 and 165 of Railways Act of 1989.
As per para 9 of Railway Manual, private tourist parties should give a written declaration that they will not carry any inflammable article during their journey. In the fire accident that happened in a private party tourist coach stabled in Madurai yard today (26-08-2023), the private party had also given a declaration to this effect.
Nevertheless, the private party had illegally carried Gas Cylinder, stove and other inflammable articles which led to the freak fire accident.
(Screenshot of Declaration given by the Tour operator shared)
Bulletin 3:
MADURAI JUNCTION FIRE ACCIDENT : HELP LINE NUMBERS
The following two help line numbers are provided at the site to share the information related to the fire incident and casualties.
9360552608
8015681915
9360552591 ,
6383914736
9361717800
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