Rajdhani Express Coach On Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Route Catches Fire In Kota Division

A major fire scare unfolded on Sunday morning after a massive blaze broke out in an AC coach of the Rajdhani Express travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to Hazrat Nizamuddin.

The incident took place in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district and caused panic among passengers before railway staff managed to safely evacuate everyone from the affected coach.

According to railway officials, the fire broke out around 5:30 am between Luni Richha and Vikramgarh Alot stations in the Kota Division of West Central Railway. The affected train was Train No. 12431 Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express.

A short circuit caused a sudden fire on the Rajdhani Express from Thiruvananthapuram to Hazrat Nizamuddin (Delhi) at 5:15 a.m. on May 17, 2026. The fire spread to two coaches, causing widespread panic among passengers.

The incident occurred between Luni and Alot railway stations… pic.twitter.com/JjygdcJWnT

— Dharm (@dhram00) May 17, 2026

Officials said the blaze started in coach number B1, located near the front portion of the train. The train was reportedly around 110 kilometres away from Ratlam when the incident occurred.

Fire Spread Rapidly Inside The Coach

According to reports, the fire spread through the coach within seconds after it was first noticed. The train guard immediately alerted the loco pilot about the situation, following which emergency action was initiated.

Railway officials said the train was quickly brought to a halt to prevent the fire from spreading further to nearby coaches.

Panic reportedly spread among passengers as smoke and flames emerged from the AC coach early in the morning. However, onboard railway staff, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and emergency teams acted quickly to control the situation and begin evacuation procedures.

A fire was reported in B-1 coach (near SLR end) of Train No. 12431 Thiruvananthapuram–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express between Luni Richha (LNR) and Vikramgarh Alot (VMA) at Km 729/02 (Loco) & 728/14-16 (SLR) in Down direction. All passengers of the affected coach were safely… pic.twitter.com/uOJXP5xqUj

— ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2026

All Passengers Safely Evacuated

Around 68 passengers were travelling in the affected B1 coach at the time of the incident.
According to railway authorities, the entire coach was evacuated within nearly 15 minutes after the fire broke out. Officials confirmed that all passengers were safely deboarded and no injuries or casualties were reported among passengers or railway staff.

In an official statement, West Central Railway's Kota Division said:

"A fire was reported in B-1 coach near the SLR end of Train No. 12431 Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express between Luni Richha and Vikramgarh Alot. All passengers of the affected coach were safely deboarded. No injury or casualty to any passenger or railway staff."

The quick response by railway authorities is being credited with preventing a major tragedy.

Railway Authorities Detached The Coach

Soon after the incident, railway authorities disconnected the overhead electric (OHE) power supply in the affected section as a safety measure.

Officials also detached the damaged B1 coach from the rest of the train rake to stop the fire from spreading further.

Relief and rescue teams from the Kota Railway Division rushed to the site shortly after the incident was reported. Senior railway officials and technical staff also arrived to inspect the situation and supervise restoration work.

Firefighting operations were immediately launched while railway staff worked to ensure passenger safety and clear the affected section.

Train Movement Disrupted On Delhi-Mumbai Route

The incident temporarily affected rail traffic on the busy Delhi-Mumbai railway route.
Train operations in the section were halted while emergency procedures and safety inspections were carried out.

Train No. 12955 was stopped at Mahidpur Road station due to the disruption.
Several other trains were also halted at different stations following the incident. According to reports:

• Train 19020 was stopped at Shamgarh
• Train 12416 was halted at Suwasra
• Train 05017 was held at Nathu Khedi
• Train 12472 Swaraj Express was stopped at Shamgarh
• Train 22210 was halted at Chaumahla
• Train 01492 Pune Special was stopped at Modak station

Railway authorities later said efforts were underway to restore normal train movement in the affected section.

Cause Of Fire Under Investigation

Officials have confirmed that the exact reason behind the fire is still being investigated.
Railway authorities are examining whether the incident was caused by an electrical fault, technical malfunction or any other operational issue inside the coach.

Technical experts are expected to inspect the damaged coach in detail before submitting a final report.

Another Reminder About Railway Safety Concerns

The incident has once again raised concerns over onboard fire safety and emergency preparedness on long-distance trains in India.

Although no casualties occurred in this case, railway fires often create panic because of the speed at which smoke and flames can spread inside coaches.

The Rajdhani Express is one of Indian Railways' premium long-distance train services, and incidents involving such trains attract major public attention.

Railway officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of regular technical inspections, electrical safety checks and rapid emergency response systems to avoid major accidents.

Situation Brought Under Control

Officials later confirmed that the fire was successfully brought under control and the affected coach had been separated from the train.

Railway teams continued inspections and restoration work throughout the morning while efforts were made to normalise train movement on the route.

Further updates regarding the investigation and the extent of damage are expected after railway authorities complete their technical inquiry into the incident.