Railway to install advanced fire alarm system

"Trial of the advanced fire alarm system is already on in the Bhubaneswar Rajdhani train and the system would be replicated in other trains also once the trial is over," said a senior Railway Ministry official.

Yesterday`s fire started in the 12951 Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani pantry car and rapidly spread to three adjoining coaches near Thuriya station in Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh.

Though the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, preliminary investigation suggested short circuit in the AC pantry car caused the blaze.

All AC and non-AC pantry cars have to be rechecked fully including their electrical fittings, maintenance system, fire extinguishers and safety related measures adopted, said a senior Railway Ministry official.

Rajdhani trains are now being provided with lightweight LHB coaches. Designed with German technology, the LHB coaches have fire retardant quality.

"The fire did not spread fast due to the LHB coaches," said the official adding, "Had it not been LHB then fire could have spread much faster."

The materials used for flooring, seating arrangement, curtains and vestibules in the LHB coaches are all fire retardants.

Four coaches including the pantry car of the Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani were completely gutted. However, no one was injured in the fire.