Major tragedy averted as Gokul Express engine catches fire

BAHRAICH: Panic gripped passengers travelling in Gonda-Bareilly Gokul Express after its engine caught fire between Risia and Matera railway stations late on Tuesday night. The driver saved the situation from worsening by applying emergency brake. A few passengers even jumped off the train even before it could come to a halt. However, no one was injured in the incident.
Three fire brigade vehicles battled for three hours to douse the flame. However, the engine was badly damaged. A coach too suffered partial damage. A fire brigade officer said that prima facie it seemed that a short circuit caused the fire.
The train left for Nanpara from Risia railway station after a delay of 4 hours 10 minutes following arrival of another engine from Gonda railway station.
According to reports, front side of the engine caught fire near Mridangi village between Risia and Matera railway station. After bringing the train to a halt, driver Naseem Khan and his assistant ran to every passenger coach and asked passengers to alight from the train. The GRP squad travelling in the train too ensured that passengers came down the burning train. Later, Khan and guard KC Mishra informed Risia station master. Later an engine sent from Nanpara railway station took the damaged engine to Matera railway station, while another engine from Gonda railway station took the coaches to Risia railway station.
Northern-Eastern Railway’s public relation officer Anil Saxena said that a thorough investigation would be held to identify the exact reason behind the fire.