2 coaches of Tata-Ernakulam Express burst in flames in Andhra Pradesh, one passenger dies

A devastating fire broke out on the Tatanagar–Ernakulam Express (Train No. 18189) in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district during the early hours of Monday, December 29, 2025. The incident occurred around 1:00 AM near the Elamanchili railway station shortly after the train had crossed Duvvada. Alert loco pilots noticed flames emerging from the coaches and immediately applied emergency brakes, bringing the train to a halt. This quick action allowed most of the 158 passengers across the two affected coaches to be evacuated swiftly.

Despite the rapid evacuation efforts, a 70-year-old passenger was tragically charred to death. The victim, identified as Chandrasekhar Sundar (or Sundaram), a resident of Vijayawada, was reportedly trapped inside the B1 AC coach as the fire intensified. The blaze, which originated in the B1 coach and quickly spread to the adjacent M2 coach, completely gutted both compartments before fire tenders from Anakapalli, Elamanchili, and Nakkapalli could bring the situation under control.

The fire caused significant disruption on the busy Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada rail route. Railway authorities promptly detached the charred B1 and M2 coaches along with the adjacent M1 coach as a precautionary measure to prevent the flames from spreading further. The remaining part of the train eventually left the site nearly four hours late. Alternative arrangements, including APSRTC buses to Samalkot and the attachment of replacement AC coaches, were made for the stranded passengers to continue their journey toward Kerala.