Howrah-Raxaul Mithila express catches fire at Howrah station, passengers evacuate in panic

Panic gripped hundreds of commuters at the bustling Howrah Railway Station on Tuesday after a thick blanket of smoke was seen billowing out from a stationary rake of the Mithila Express. The emergency was triggered during the daytime when several onboard passengers and platform staff noticed heavy gray smoke emerging directly from the toilet unit of the train's general compartment. The visible threat immediately sparked a minor stampede-like situation and widespread fear among the traveling passengers, prompting an emergency response from local transit authorities stationed at the terminal.

Personnel from the Railway Security Force (RPF) and the local Railway Police swiftly rushed to the designated platform to manage the escalating crisis. Acting with rapid tactical precision, emergency response crews completely isolated and evacuated all passengers from the affected general compartment before detaching the specific bogie from the main train line to prevent further contamination or potential fire spread. Sniffer dog squads were systematically deployed across the platform area, while an expert forensic engineering team initiated a detailed on-site investigation to determine whether the incident stemmed from a mechanical failure or a malicious act.

Addressing the rising public concern and media speculation, Howrah's Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) and Public Relations Officer (PRO), Hari Narayanan Gangopadhyay, clarified that no open flames or active fire had been detected on the train. Gangopadhyay reassured the public that the situation was brought under complete administrative control within minutes, confirming that the isolated compartment had been safely moved to the local yard for comprehensive technical diagnostics. The incident caused a brief disruption in standard platform scheduling, leading to dense crowds packing the station terminal as inbound passengers disembarked from adjacent lines.