Narrow escape for passengers as Saharsa Intercity Express engine catches fire

Patna: Rajendra Nagar Terminal-Saharsa Intercity Express (13228) passengers had a narrow escape when a fire suddenly broke out in the engine of the train at Banka Ghat station near Patna Sahib under Danapur division of the East Central Railway (ECR) on Tuesday morning.

No one was injured in the incident.Railways has ordered an internal inquiry into the incident.As soon as the passengers noticed thick smoke billowing out of the engine at 7.40am, panic gripped them and they began jumping out of the coaches and rushed onto the tracks fearing a major mishap, sources said.Sensing the seriousness of the situation, the loco pilot immediately applied the emergency brakes and brought the train to a halt.

Railway staff swung into action and managed to extinguish the fire before it could spread further, Fatuha RPF sources said, adding the swift response of the railway personnel helped avert a major accident.The train was detained at Banka Ghat station for two hours, from where it was moved to Fatuha, where the engine was replaced.Danapur senior divisional commercial manager Abhinav Siddarth said the auxiliary motor of the engine caught fire and an internal inquiry has been ordered into the incident.After the situation was normalised and necessary checks carried out, the train resumed its onward journey towards Saharsa around 9.40am from Fatuha, sources added.