Andhra Pradesh: Early on Monday morning, a fire broke out in two air-conditioned coaches of the Tata Nagar–Ernakulam Express (Train No. 18189) near Duvvada in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district, killing a 70-year-old man while allowing many other passengers to escape, according to authorities.

Preliminary reports state that the train, which was traveling through the Visakhapatnam area from Tatanagar to Ernakulam, took fire at around 1.30 a.m. after passing through Duvvada.

The air-conditioned coaches of the B1 and M2, which were parked behind the pantry car, were said to have caught fire.

According to a railway police officer, the train was promptly stopped at the station when the loco pilots reported the incident at a railway junction near Yelamanchili.

However, the fire spread quickly and consumed the two AC coaches, fully gutting them before fire personnel could get on the scene.

The passengers, many of whom were perplexed and uncertain about the situation, ran out onto the platforms as panic struck as dense smoke filled the compartments.

Authorities and passengers alike were relieved when railway officials reported that every passenger had been safely evacuated.

However, they acknowledged that one of the passengers died in the event.

Chandrasekhar Sundar (70), a native of Vijayawada, was identified as the dead. He died from severe burn injuries after being trapped inside the B1 AC coach.

In the end, the train reached Anakapalli over four hours later than planned.

According to railway reports, sparks and flames were seen close to Narsingaballi after the train left Anakapalli. This was reportedly caused by the brakes of the B1 AC carriage overheating and catching fire.

Teams of firefighters from Anakapalli, Elamanchili, and Nakkapalli raced to the scene and spent many hours putting out the fire.

Despite persistent attempts, the fire totally destroyed all of the passenger items within the two impacted coaches.

To supervise rescue efforts and evaluate the situation, senior railway authorities arrived at the station.

Ambulances were positioned at the scene as a precaution.

As authorities attempted to handle the incident’s aftermath, hundreds of passengers were made to wait at the station for many hours in the chilly night.