​Track record, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• A fire broke out in the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express in Andhra Pradesh near Yelamanchili station at approximately 12:40 a.m. on Monday.
• The fire was detected by a passenger, who alerted the train crew using the emergency chain.
• Railway staff and other agencies responded quickly, contributing to a low casualty rate of one passenger.
• Two air-conditioned (a/c) coaches were severely damaged by the fire, which took about two hours to extinguish.
• The Indian Railways has improved its safety record, with total accidents in 2024-25 down by over 70% compared to 10 years prior.

Detailed Insights:

• The train crew's timely action of moving the train to a loop line with a platform facilitated the safe evacuation of passengers.
• Fires account for 10% to 20% of railway accidents annually, often caused by rolling stock defects, railway errors, or passengers carrying inflammable materials.
• The cause of the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express fire is currently under investigation.
• The Indian Railways Annual Report & Accounts 2023-24 indicates that fire and smoke detection systems have been installed in around 20,000 a/c coaches.
• The goal is to equip all a/c coaches, including new ones, with fire and smoke detection systems, and all passenger train coaches have fire extinguishers.
• Fixed fire extinguishing systems, which can automatically activate and extinguish fires, including electrical fires, could be considered for a/c coaches.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Rolling Stock: Railway vehicles, including locomotives, passenger cars, and freight cars.
• Emergency Chain: A safety mechanism in trains that passengers can pull to alert the crew of an emergency.
• Fire Extinguisher: A portable device that discharges a substance to extinguish a fire.