At least 10 persons died after a fire that broke out inside a stationary train compartment in Madurai railway station in the wee hour of Saturday.

The Southern Railway said that an “illegal gas cylinder” caused the fire. Southern Railway said that an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh has been announced to the family of deceased, as reported by PTI. Madurai District Collector MS Sangeetha told reporters that 55 people have been rescued.

“Today early morning at 5:30 am there was a fire accident in the coach which was halted here at Madurai railway station…They were pilgrims & were travelling from Uttar Pradesh. This morning when they tried to make coffee & tried to lit the gas stove, there was a cylinder blast. 55 people have been rescued & as of now, we have retrieved nine bodies…Rescue operation is underway…,” she told reporters.

As per the Southern Railway release, the fire broke out at 5.15 am on Saturday and the Fire service personnel who arrived at the spot half an hour later put down the blaze by 7.15 am.

The Southern Railway has also issued helpline numbers: 9360552608, 8015681915 to share the information related to the fire incident and causalities.

In a statement issued by the Railways, it said, “This is a private party coach that was attached at Nagercoil Junction yesterday (Aug 25) by train no. 16730 (Punalur-Madurai Exp). Party coach was detached and kept at Madurai Stabling line. The passengers in the private party coach have illegally smuggled gas cylinder and this has caused the fire. Many passengers had got out of the coach on noticing fire. Some passengers had got down at platform itself,” the release said.

“The party coach had started their journey from Lucknow on 17th August. They are scheduled to return to Chennai tomorrow by Tino. 16824 Kollam Chennai Egmore Ananthapuri express. And return to Lucknow from there. Any individual can book party coach using IRCTC portal. They are not allowed to carry any inflammable material like gas cylinder. The coach is to used only for transportation purpose, the statement read.

Source: Mint