railways-claim-sabotage-in-recent-train-fire-incidents

Claiming that  series of recent train fires were not accidental, instead acts of deliberate mischief, the Railways have said that investigations found signs of arson and sabotage at multiple locations. Passengers have been urged to remain vigilant and prioritise safety. In case of any suspicious activity, they are advised to immediately contact the railway helpline number 139.

 

The Indian Railways has stated evidence pointing to intentional wrongdoing has emerged across multiple locations, including incidents in Rajasthan and Howrah. The Railways' message comes days after a massive blaze in one of the air-conditioned coaches of a Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam. No injuries were reported.

The investigations into recent incidents of fire reported in trains have revealed the possible involvement of anti-social elements in several cases. Sources said that the Indian Railways has taken these incidents seriously, and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) is carrying out intensive investigations into the matter.

 

In an incident near Amarapura Railway Station, an attempt was made by an unidentified individual to set fire to linen materials inside a coach, which led to a fire outbreak. In a separate case in Howrah, a piece of cloth soaked in petrol was recovered from the bathroom of a train that caught fire.

 

Similarly, in Kota, initial flames in the Rajdhani Express were reported to have originated from the bathroom area. In Sasaram, the incident took place in an empty coach with no power generator present. The authorities have reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of passengers amid recent fire incidents. It noted that the prompt response of railway staff helped avert major accidents in the Amarapura and Howrah incidents.

 

After conducting rigorous probes into several incidents, the national carrier revealed that evidence of sabotage has been found in multiple places. For instance, near Amarpura station in Rajasthan, an individual reportedly attempted to set train linen on fire, which subsequently triggered a blaze. In Kota, flames were seen from the bathroom of a Rajdhani Express, and in Sasaram an as-yet unknown person threw a burning object inside an empty coach.