Massive Fire Breaks Out On Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express Train; 2 Coaches Gutted, 1 Dead

New Delhi: One person died after two coaches of the Tatanagar–Ernakulam Express caught fire in Andhra Pradesh’s Yalamanchili area early on Monday (December 29, 2025). 

Officials said they received information about the blaze at around 12.45 am, following which multiple emergency teams were rushed to the spot. 

After the fire was brought under control, a body was recovered from the B1 coach of the train. The deceased was later identified as 70-year-old Chandrasekhar Sundar, a resident of Vijayawada, police said.

Two coaches gutted

According to officials, the fire originated in the B1 coach and subsequently spread to the adjacent M1 and B2 coaches, which were located near the pantry car. The affected coaches were severely damaged and later found to be completely gutted, as per reports. 

All belongings inside the coaches were also destroyed in the blaze. Railway officials said the affected coaches were promptly detached from the rest of the train, preventing the fire from spreading further.

Loco pilot noticed flames

The incident occurred near Yalamanchili, about 66 km from Visakhapatnam. At the time of the fire, there were reportedly 82 passengers in one affected coach and 76 in the other. 

The loco pilot noticed flames in one of the coaches and immediately brought the train to a halt near Elamanchili railway station, enabling the swift evacuation of passengers, officials said.

The train was travelling from Tatanagar to Ernakulam when the fire was detected. Following the halt, passengers disembarked amid chaos, but railway officials later confirmed that all other passengers are safe. 

An investigation has been launched to ascertain the cause of the fire.

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