Tamil Nadu train fire: 10 killed, several injured as Punalur-Madurai Express catches fire; ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh announced

Madurai Train Fire: In the horrific and unfortunate train accident, at least ten nine killed and several injured after Punalur-Madurai Express catches fire near Madurai railway station at 5:15 am on Saturday morning. 

 A fire broke out inside a stationary train compartment near the Madurai Railway Station in the early hours of Saturday.  

As per the statement by Southern Railway, a “private party coach” was attached at Nagercoil Junction on August 25 by Train number 16730, the Punalur-Madurai Express, which began its journey from Lucknow on August 17 and had arrived at Madurai at 3.47 am today. The “party coach” was detached and kept at the Madurai Stabling line where the fire broke out at 5.15 am

As per the statement by Southern Railway, An ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh announced to the family of the deceased. 

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh to the kin of those who lost their lives in the train accident in Madurai.

Taking to social media platform ‘X’ CM Stalin wrote, “Deeply saddened by the tragic incident near Madurai Railway junction where nine precious lives were lost in a train fire accident. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the deceased. To support the affected families, an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh will be provided.”

He further said that he has given instructions to the Madurai district collector Sangeetha and P Moorthy, Tamil Nadu Minister of Commercial Taxes, Registration Department to ensure that the injured receive the highest quality treatment at the Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital.

According to the release by the Railways, “the passengers in the private party coach have illegally smuggled gas cylinder and this caused the fire. Many passengers had got out of the coach on noticing fire. Some passengers had got down at platform itself.”

According to the Railways, any individual can book party coach using the IRCTC portal. They are not allowed to carry any inflammable material like gas cylinder. The coach is to used only for transportation purposes.

Several senior officials like the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM), and other divisional officer have reached the site of the mishap.