Panic as Mumbai–Delhi Garib Rath Exp. engine catches fire, no casualties

According to railway authorities, the fire broke out as the train approached Sendra station, about 60 km from Ajmer

Firefighters try to douse the flames in the engine of the Garib Rath Express (photo: PTI)
Firefighters try to douse the flames in the engine of the Garib Rath Express (photo: PTI)
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NH Digital

Passengers on board the Mumbai–Delhi Garib Rath Express were left shaken late on Friday night after the train's engine caught fire near Sendra station in Rajasthan’s Beawar region. The incident, which caused significant panic, fortunately resulted in no injuries.

According to railway authorities, the fire broke out on train no. 12216 — the Garib Rath Express — as it approached Sendra railway station, approximately 60 km from Ajmer. Passengers and crew noticed smoke emanating from the engine’s wheels, prompting an emergency halt.

“Within moments, flames erupted from inside the engine,” said a railway official familiar with the matter. “The control room was immediately alerted, and response teams were mobilised without delay.”

The situation was swiftly addressed by personnel from the Ajmer railway division. Senior officials, including additional divisional railway manager (ADRM) Vikas Bura and senior divisional security officer Swati Jain, arrived at the scene to oversee operations. At least five fire tenders were deployed, and it took nearly an hour-and-a-half to fully extinguish the blaze.

Officials confirmed that the fire was contained to the locomotive and did not spread to any of the passenger coaches. Despite the fire, all 18 coaches carrying hundreds of passengers remained unaffected.

A replacement engine was dispatched from Ajmer to facilitate the continuation of the journey. The damaged locomotive was detached, and the new engine was coupled with the stationary rake. The train resumed its journey towards Ajmer at around 6.00 am on Saturday, following a delay of nearly three hours.

The chief public relations officer (CPRO) of North Western Railway, Shashi Kiran, confirmed that a formal probe had been ordered. “A high-level inquiry committee has been formed to find out the exact reason behind the fire,” he said. “The cause will be known only after the investigation.”

The fire incident also disrupted the schedules of at least two other trains using the same route. The Bhuj–Bareilly Express arrived at Ajmer nearly three hours behind schedule, while the Bhuj–Delhi Sarai Rohilla service was delayed by approximately three-and-a-half hours. Normal rail traffic resumed only after the Garib Rath Express was cleared from the tracks.

The Garib Rath, a budget long-distance service introduced in 2005, is one of Indian Railways’ key express trains aimed at providing affordable air-conditioned travel. The fire, though quickly contained, is likely to raise fresh questions about maintenance protocols and fire safety measures across the network.

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