Massive Fire Destroys Empty Train Compartment at Katwa Railway Station
A significant fire erupted in an empty compartment of the Katwa-Azimganj passenger train at Katwa railway station in East Burdwan district early on Sunday morning. The incident occurred around 4:45 am at platform number two, causing extensive damage to the compartment.
Investigation Points to Deliberate Act
Following preliminary reports, the Railways has formed a five-member inquiry committee led by Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM) Uday Kumar Mishra. The committee was established after initial findings suggested the fire may have been set intentionally, rather than resulting from an accidental cause such as a short circuit.
Eastern Railway chief public relations officer Sibaram Majhi confirmed that ADRM Mishra visited the site. He stated, "Preliminary investigation revealed it was not a short circuit. It is suspected outsiders may have been involved and that the fire was set intentionally."
Swift Response and No Casualties
The station was largely empty at the time of the fire, with no other trains present. A few passengers waiting overnight to board the train were alerted immediately. Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel responded quickly to the emergency.
Katwa railway station GRP officer-in-charge Tanumoy Purkait detailed the response: "We rushed to the spot and informed the fire brigade. We started dousing the fire with extinguishers before fire officials arrived, and the train engine was shifted to the carshed. Two fire tenders reached the spot and extinguished the fire within 15-20 minutes."
He added that the fire spread rapidly due to synthetic materials like cushions and rexine seats, which expedited the flames. The compartment was completely gutted in the incident.
Forensic Inspection and Safety Measures
A forensic team is scheduled to inspect the site on Monday to gather further evidence and determine the exact cause of the fire. GRP and RPF personnel have cordoned off the area and barred entry to ensure the investigation proceeds without interference.
Officer Purkait noted, "Fortunately, there were no passengers inside the compartment. This train arrives at Katwa every night and remains at platform two until morning, starting its journey at 6 am with passengers. No injuries were reported."
The incident has raised concerns about railway safety and security, prompting authorities to review protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
