Passenger train from Hyderabad catches fire, two dead, 7 injured

Two persons were charred to death and seven others suffered severe burns when a bogie of Solapur-bound passenger train from Hyderabad caught fire during its halt at the station here today, police said.

There were over 15 passengers in the bogie of the Falaknuma Passenger after it arrived here at 12.30 pm and caught fire, cause of which is not known, but six of them jumped to safety.

The victims are yet to be identified as the bodies have been burnt beyond recognition, police said.

The injured have been admitted to a hospital here where the condition of two was stated to be serious.

Some of the passengers were headed for Tuljapur in Maharashtra to attend the Bhavani festival which takes place during Navarathri, police said.

Superintendent of Police Praveen Madhukar Pawar and railway police officials and District Incharge Minister Revunaik Belmagi visited the station.

Railways order probe into Gulbarga train fire

Railways have ordered an inquiry into the Gulbarga train fire incident today which claimed two lives and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh to the next of the kin of the dead.

Two passengers were charred to death and about nine suffered severe burns when a general coach of Solapur-bound Falaknuma passenger train from Hyderabad caught fire during its halt at Gulbarga station.

"An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the fire in the general coach of the Solapur passenger train. The inquiry will be conducted by Commissioner Railway Safety Chetan Baxi and submit the report at the earliest," Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena said.

Railways have also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh to the next of the kin of the dead, Rs 75,000 to the seriously injured and Rs 5,000 for those with minor injuries.

"The service of fire brigade was immediately pressed to douse the fire which was noticed at around 1 PM in the coach. Senior officials have already rushed to the spot and fire has been extinguished completely by 2.15 PM," he said.

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