A major accident was narrowly averted near Ratlam when a fire broke out in the B1 coach of the New Delhi–Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express near Alot station. Around 68 passengers were onboard the affected coach when the incident occurred early in the morning. According to initial reports, the fire is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, although an official investigation is still underway. Dense smoke and flames quickly engulfed the coach, triggering panic among passengers. However, timely action by the train crew helped prevent a tragedy. The loco pilot applied emergency brakes after receiving an alert from the guard, and all passengers were safely evacuated within minutes. The affected coach was detached to stop the fire from spreading, and the train’s power supply was cut off. Several nearby trains were also temporarily regulated due to the incident. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but passengers’ luggage was destroyed. The incident has raised serious questions about fire safety systems and maintenance standards in premium trains like the Rajdhani Express.


