Nagpur: The massive fire that broke out in the AC coach of the Rajdhani Express on Sunday bears striking similarities to the fire incident involving the Grand Trunk Express on the Wardha-Nagpur route three months ago. Just 36 hours earlier, a major fire had also erupted in an AC coach of the Jaipur Express at Hyderabad station. Though no casualties were reported in any of these incidents, the repeated fire accidents in passenger trains have left commuters worried about railway safety.
At around 5:15 am on Sunday, smoke was noticed coming out of an AC coach of the Rajdhani Express by the train guard. He immediately alerted the loco pilot, following which the train was stopped without delay. The affected coach was carrying 68 passengers, including several children. Acting swiftly, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and railway staff evacuated all passengers safely within 15 minutes, preventing any injuries or casualties.
The Rajdhani Express incident is being seen as a repeat of the February 17, 2026 fire involving a coach of the Grand Trunk Express on the Nagpur-Wardha route. Although both incidents fortunately did not result in loss of life, they have once again raised serious concerns over fire safety and passenger security in moving trains.
Passengers, take note
While booking tickets online, passengers are offered the option of purchasing railway travel insurance at a very nominal premium. This insurance provides financial assistance in the event of accidents or mishaps during travel. In case of death in an accident, the nominee of the deceased passenger can receive compensation of up to Rs 10 lakh. Permanent disability is also covered up to Rs 10 lakh, while injured passengers can receive medical assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh.