Train engine catches fire

Noticing the fire at about 3.30 pm, the driver stopped the train at a place between Cherupalli an Baidapalli, about 45 km from here under Khaliapali-Barpalli section of East Coast Railway, police said.

Immediately local people volunteered to douse the flames fetching water from nearby water bodies while the fire extinguisher in the train was also used. By the time fire brigade personnel from Rampur reached the spot, the flame had been controlled, they said.

No casualty or loss of property had been reported as the fire was prevented from spreading, railway officials said.

As a result of the incident, the train remained stranded for one-and-a-half hours. A new engine from Bolangir came and the train resumed its onward journey to Bhubaneswar.

East Coast Railway sources said efforts were on to ascertain the reason behind the incident.