Major Accident Averted at Sultanganj Railway Station Fire Suddenly Breaks Out in a Coal-Laden Goods Train Bogie; Panic Ensues, Situation Brought Under Control Due to Promptness of Fire Brigade and Railway Personnel
Sultanganj/Bhagalpur (Special Correspondent): A major tragedy was averted in the nick of time on Wednesday within the premises of the historic Sultanganj Railway Station, a major hub for Kanwariyas in Bihar. A fire suddenly broke out in a bogie of a coal-laden goods train passing near the yard and tracks of the Sultanganj Railway Station. Seeing smoke and flames billowing from the train, immense panic ensued among passengers, railway employees, and local shopkeepers present at the station. As soon as the news of the incident spread, chaos gripped the railway administration. The station master and local security forces sprang into action immediately, and the fire department was informed. Thanks to the prompt and courageous actions of railway personnel and firefighters, the fire was brought under complete control in time, averting a severe rail accident with no reports of any loss of life or property.
How Did Panic Ensue? An Eyewitness Account of the Incident
According to eyewitnesses, around afternoon, when this coal-laden goods train was passing by or stationed near the Sultanganj Railway Station, black smoke suddenly started billowing from the coal loaded inside a wagon:
Flames Erupting in No Time: Initially, people thought it might be normal smoke caused by friction or brake shoe heat, but within minutes, the smoke assumed a menacing form and flames became visible.
Atmosphere of Terror Among Passengers: Chaos erupted among passengers waiting for trains at the station at that time and in the surrounding areas. People began running toward safe locations to save their lives. For a brief period, an atmosphere akin to screams and a stampede developed on the station premises.
Promptness of Railway Administration and Fire Brigade
Gauging the gravity of the incident, the Superintendent of Sultanganj Railway Station and the operating staff activated the emergency protocol without wasting a single moment:
Train Immediately Stopped and Isolated: The loco pilot and guard of the goods train were instantly informed via wireless, following which the train was halted at a safe spot and efforts began to detach (isolate) the affected bogie from the rest to prevent the fire from spreading to other wagons.
Arrival of Fire Tenders: Upon receiving information, local fire department vehicles rushed directly to the spot. Personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), and local police also took charge of the situation.
Fire Brought Under Control After Hours of Hard Work
Fire department personnel and the railway's technical team jointly launched firefighting operations on a war footing:
Fire Smoldering Inside the Heap of Coal: Extinguishing fires in coal-laden goods trains is a technical challenge in itself, because despite pouring water on the upper surface, fire smoldering deep inside the heap of coal takes time to quench. Firefighters continuously sprayed water to cool down the coal.
Rack Safely Extricated: After hours of grueling effort, the fire was finally brought completely under control. Subsequently, railway engineers and the technical team thoroughly inspected the entire train to ensure no hidden threats or sparking remained.
How Did the Fire Start? What Do Preliminary Estimates Suggest?
According to preliminary investigations and railway officials, the following potential causes lie behind this accident:
Spontaneous Combustion: Due to air, moisture, and friction coming into contact with coal during long-distance transit, spontaneous combustion often occurs on the upper or inner surfaces, causing the coal to smolder.
Sparking in a Moving Train: Sparks generated by excessive friction between wheels and brake shoes, if coming into contact with exposed coal, trigger such incidents. However, senior railway officials stated that a high-level committee has been formed to conduct a technical investigation into the incident to determine the exact primary cause of the fire.
Partial Impact on Traffic and Operations
The incident had a partial impact on the operation of some trains passing through Sultanganj station. As a precautionary measure, train movement on the main line was halted for a short period, causing brief inconvenience to passengers. However, rail traffic was smoothly restored after the fire was extinguished and the track was declared completely safe.
Although the fire in the coal-laden goods train at Sultanganj Railway Station was a frightening incident, the wisdom and prompt action of the railway administration, security forces, and fire department averted a major disaster. This incident once again proved how vigilant the railway machinery is in dealing with emergency situations. Fortunately, there was no loss of life in this accident, bringing a sigh of relief to the administration and locals alike.
