Train services on the Delhi-Mumbai route gradually returned to normal after a major fire incident involving the Rajdhani Express in Ratlam district early Saturday morning caused panic among passengers and disrupted rail traffic for several hours.
Railway officials confirmed that all passengers onboard the affected B-1 AC coach were safely evacuated after flames broke out around 5:15 AM between Vikramgarh Alot and Luni Richha stations. No injuries or casualties have been reported so far.
The fire, which also spread to the adjacent luggage-cum-guard van, led to thick black smoke rising from the train, with visuals from the scene rapidly circulating on social media. Authorities immediately switched off the overhead electric power supply and detached the damaged coach and guard van from the rake to stop the blaze from spreading further.
Officials said the train later resumed its journey toward Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station at around 9:45 AM after emergency operations were completed. Passengers from the affected compartment were shifted to other coaches, while railway authorities arranged for an additional coach to be attached at Kota in Rajasthan.
The train had started its journey from Thiruvananthapuram and had already covered nearly 2,500 kilometres before the fire incident occurred. At the time of the blaze, it was around 650 kilometres away from Delhi.
The incident also affected operations of nearly 18 trains running on the route, including the Avadh Express, Mumbai Central–Duronto Express and New Delhi–Indore Express. Several trains were delayed or temporarily halted as railway teams cleared the affected section.
Railway officials have launched a detailed investigation into the cause of the fire. Preliminary assessment and technical inspection of the damaged coach are currently underway.