National: Panic spread like wildfire — quite literally — on a Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) train journeying from Pune to Daund on Monday, as a mid-journey blaze brought travel to a screeching halt. The inferno, suspected to have sparked from a short circuit in the train’s toilet, led to a gripping rescue operation.
Eyewitnesses recounted a harrowing scene: a man found himself trapped inside the blazing toilet as the door reportedly jammed. As dense smoke billowed out and the man’s frantic cries echoed through the coach, several quick-thinking co-passengers sprang into action. They heroically smashed the toilet door open, pulling the man to safety just moments before what could have been a tragic fatality. Fire and railway officials have lauded the passengers’ prompt and courageous response, crediting their swift actions with saving a life.
This alarming incident comes on the heels of a similar fire scare months ago at Chhattisgarh’s Durg Railway Station. In that instance, an AC coach of an empty passenger train caught fire while stationary in the yard. Although no casualties were reported, that blaze was fierce enough to completely gut one coach, with a smoke column visible from a considerable distance. Firefighters, aided by railway staff, responded immediately, deploying three fire engines and getting the situation under control within half an hour.
Railway authorities have launched investigations into both incidents, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced electrical safety audits and heightened emergency preparedness across all passenger trains.
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