No loss of life reported; fire brought under control through joint efforts of local residents, civil and police administration, and fire brigade teams: Dr Himanshu Aggarwal
-Says passengers safely evacuated from Amritsar–New Jalpaiguri train have been sent onward by Railways on another train
Sarai Banjara (Rajpura, Patiala), November 6:
Patiala Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal and SSP Harmandeep Hans visited the spot to take stock of the fire incident involving some coaches of an Indian Railways train travelling from Amritsar to New Jalpaiguri. The incident occurred this afternoon near Sarai Banjara Railway Station on the Rajpura-Ambala-Delhi rail route.
The Deputy Commissioner said that there had been no loss of life in the incident and that the district administration acted promptly to extend all possible assistance to the passengers. A team of doctors was also deployed at Sarai Banjara Railway Station to conduct medical examinations of the passengers.
Sharing details of the incident, Dr Himanshu Aggarwal said that residents of village Sarai Banjara acted swiftly, while coordinated efforts by the civil administration, police, fire brigade and railway teams helped bring the fire under control. He said that the courage, prompt response and teamwork displayed by all the teams and local residents helped avert a major tragedy, with all passengers remaining safe.
Appreciating the Railways, he said that the passengers who had been safely evacuated from the train had been accommodated on another train and sent onward to their respective destinations. He urged their family members not to worry.
The Deputy Commissioner said that as soon as information about the incident was received at around 1.30 pm, SDM Rajpura Ravinder Singh, SP Bikram Brar, DSP Manjit Singh and other administrative officers swung into action and alerted emergency services and hospitals. He appreciated and thanked local residents and teams from various departments for displaying courage and extending cooperation during the difficult situation.
SSP Harmandeep Hans said that police teams, including the SP and DSP of Rajpura, along with the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF), reached the spot and immediately joined the relief and rescue operations. He said that the situation was now completely under control.
Divisional Railway Manager of the Ambala Division of Northern Railway, Vinod Bhatia, who visited the site along with other senior railway officials, said that around 1,500 passengers were travelling on the train. He said that as soon as the fire was detected, the railway safety mechanisms were activated, and the loco pilot, guard and other railway staff acted promptly to detach the affected coach from the remaining coaches.
Vinod Bhatia said that a detailed forensic investigation would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the fire. He added that rail traffic on both sides of the track had been halted as a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety and prevent anyone from jumping out of the coaches in panic. Efforts are now underway to remove the fire-affected coaches from the track and restore rail traffic.
