Empty train coach catches fire at CSMT in Mumbai

Central Railway shuts down overhead railway equipment as precautionary measure, so outstation trains did not depart from CSMT for a while

A spare outstation train coach parked in the railway yard at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) caught fire on Tuesday afternoon. The coach was empty.

A fire-fighter douses the fire inside the coach of a train parked at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway yard in Mumbai on Tuesday. (KUNAL PATIL/ HT PHOTO)

The fire broke out at 3pm, and was doused by 3.40pm. Twenty fire-fighters and two water tankers were rushed to the spot to douse the blaze.

The Central Railway (CR) shut down the overhead railway equipment as a precautionary measure, so outstation trains did not depart from CSMT for a while; services resumed by 4.45pm.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established. CR has ordered an enquiry in the incident. “We have called the forensic department, and they will inspect the site. We cannot rule out miscreants either. We will be able to determine the cause only after investigation. But we plan to increase security in the yards,” said SK Pankaj, senior deputy general manager, CR.

While the sleeper coach was charred completely, the fire also partly damaged a spare air-conditioned coach, which was parked next to it. Officials managed to move the AC coach away from the burning coach before there could be more damage. Both coaches were unoccupied.