Railways Suspects Sabotage in Multiple Train Fire Incidents; Nationwide Investigation Launched

In a recent incident, a fire was reported in a coach of the Mithila Express while it was stationed at Howrah. Following an investigation, officials recovered a half-burnt piece of cloth soaked in petrol from the coach. Railway staff acted swiftly and brought the situation under immediate control, preventing what authorities described as a potential major disaster.

The Ministry stated that preliminary findings suggest attempts by certain anti-social elements to endanger passenger safety and create fear and disruption within the railway network. Authorities confirmed that multiple incidents are currently under active investigation.

Among the reported cases, bedding material was allegedly set on fire in Amarpura. In Howrah, officials recovered a petrol-soaked cloth from a coach bathroom. In another incident at Kota, flames were observed emerging from the washroom area of a Rajdhani Express, raising further concerns about deliberate attempts to cause damage.

A separate major incident occurred in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam, where a Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express caught fire in an air-conditioned B-1 coach at approximately 5:15 am. The coach was carrying 68 passengers when the fire broke out between Vikramgarh Alot and Luni Richha stations. Thick black smoke was seen rising from the train, and nearby trees along the tracks also caught fire.

The incident led to significant disruption of rail traffic on the route. Nearly 18 trains were affected, with several services halted at different stations following the emergency.

Railway officials reiterated that the Railway Protection Force is conducting a comprehensive investigation into all these incidents to determine the exact cause and identify those responsible. Authorities emphasized that passenger safety remains the highest priority as inquiries continue.