No passenger casualties or injuries were reported after railway staff stopped the Delhi-bound train and moved passengers out of coach B-1, where flames and smoke were detected during the journey through the Kota division. The incident involved train number 12431, a premium Rajdhani service linking Kerala’s capital with Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi.
Railway officials said the fire was reported at about 5.15am while the train was travelling between Luni Richha and Vikramgarh Alot stations, a section falling under West Central Railway’s Kota division. The affected coach was carrying 68 passengers, all of whom were removed within minutes. Staff then separated the coach from the rest of the rake as a precaution while fire and emergency teams were alerted.
Passengers from the damaged coach were accommodated in other coaches so the train could continue its journey towards Kota. Railway authorities planned to attach an additional coach at Kota to restore seating capacity and reduce disruption for those travelling to the national capital. The train had left Thiruvananthapuram on Friday and was scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Nizamuddin on Sunday afternoon.
Initial response focused on preventing the blaze from spreading to adjoining coaches. The fire was brought under control after the affected portion of the train was isolated, while railway protection personnel, operating staff, divisional officials and local emergency teams coordinated evacuation and safety checks. The cause of the fire had not been established by Sunday afternoon, and a technical inquiry was ordered.
Movement on the Mumbai–Delhi route was affected as the emergency response unfolded. Several trains were delayed or regulated because the incident occurred on a busy trunk section used by long-distance passenger and freight traffic. Railway control rooms worked to restore operations while ensuring that the damaged coach, track section and overhead systems were inspected before normal movement resumed.
A separate emergency vehicle carrying railway personnel to the site met with an accident while responding to the incident, injuring several staff members. Their vehicle reportedly overturned while rushing towards the affected section. The injuries added another layer of concern to an incident that otherwise saw passengers escape harm.
Coach fires on long-distance trains draw close scrutiny because air-conditioned coaches have sealed windows, electrical fittings, bedding, luggage spaces and pantry-linked movement that can complicate evacuation. Rajdhani trains are among the highest-priority services in the passenger network, and safety drills require rapid coordination between onboard staff, train controllers, station teams and local responders.
Sunday’s evacuation appeared to have benefited from the early detection of smoke and quick action by train staff. Detaching the affected coach helped limit damage and prevented panic from escalating. Passengers were moved away from the coach before the fire could threaten adjoining sections, while the remaining rake was assessed before arrangements were made for onward travel.
The incident is expected to renew attention on electrical audits, onboard fire-detection systems, maintenance checks and emergency readiness on premium services. Rail safety officials have pushed for tighter inspection of wiring, battery systems, air-conditioning equipment and onboard power units after earlier fire incidents across the passenger network. Long-distance trains pose particular risks because they operate overnight, carry sleeping passengers and often pass through remote stretches where emergency access can be slower.
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