Fire breaks out on Sealdah-Barasat local train, passengers evacuate in panic

A fire broke out on a local train on the Sealdah-Barasat line this morning, causing panic among passengers. The train, heading from Hasnabad towards Majerhat, was approaching Sandalia station on the down line when passengers reported seeing sparks and smoke. The fire was first noticed in the women’s compartment. In response, the driver immediately stopped the train at Sandalia station, and passengers quickly evacuated due to the growing concern over the fire. The train remained halted for over 30 minutes, during which time railway officials arrived to assess the situation.

Passengers reported noticing smoke after the train left Beliaghata station, and shortly thereafter, the fire became visible. Railway officials confirmed that the cause of the fire was a mechanical fault in the train's brake system, which had caused sparks to ignite. The fault occurred at the junction between two compartments, where the fire originated. There were no reports of injuries.

Once the fire was contained and the situation assessed, the train resumed its journey toward its destination. However, many passengers chose to disembark, fearing further danger, and some canceled their travel plans for the day. The train had been operating with a heavy passenger load, and the incident caused significant disruption to their schedules.

The incident is being investigated by railway authorities to understand the exact cause of the mechanical failure. Last year, a similar fire broke out on the Sealdah-Bongaon local when fire was seen coming from the train’s wheels near Senhati station. No injuries were reported in either incident, but the railway department is reviewing safety protocols and the condition of the train’s mechanical systems to prevent future occurrences.