Fire on Tata Ernakulam Express kills one; over 150 passengers evacuated safely

One rider died successful a occurrence that engulfed 2 AC coaches of bid no. 18189 Tata–Ernakulam Express astatine Yelamanchili railway station, nether the Vijayawada Division of South Central Railway, successful the aboriginal hours of Monday (December 29, 2025). The different passengers had a miraculous escape. The origin of the occurrence is yet to beryllium determined.

The bid was traveling from Tatanagar to Ernakulam. At astir 12:40 a.m., arsenic it approached Elamanchili railway station, a rider noticed a occurrence successful 1 of the AC coaches. He instantly pulled the exigency chain, bringing the bid to a halt astatine Elamanchili, alerting the different passengers, and helped them leap retired to safety, according to sources.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, successful a connection connected the societal media level ‘X’ said, it was unfortunate that 1 beingness was mislaid successful the incidental and offered condolences to the bereaved family. He commended the Yelamanchili Police and the Fire Department for swift and coordinated response, which ensured the harmless evacuation of much than 150 passengers. He besides appreciated the RPF and the Railway unit for their punctual enactment successful separating the beforehand and rear coaches, preventing further damage.

Anakapalli SP Tuhin Sinha, who rushed to Yelamanchili station, said, “82 passengers were travelling successful 1 of the affected coaches portion 76 were travelling successful the other. The unfortunate has been identified arsenic Chandrasekhar Sunder (75) of Vijayawada, who was travelling successful the B 1 coach. The preservation charts person been verified and each different passengers are safe. The household members of the unfortunate person been informed. The origin of occurrence is being investigated.”

DRM, Vijayawada Division, handed implicit ₹50,000 arsenic ex-gratia to the girl of the deceased.

The railway unit acted swiftly and informed the occurrence brigade. Railway officials besides swung into enactment and took contiguous measures. The occurrence brigade unit had a pugnacious clip controlling the occurrence and preventing it from spreading to different coaches.

Commissioner of Railway Safety/SCR, DRM, Vijayawada, and elder officials rushed to the spot. Forensic squad members from Visakhapatnam and Mangalagiri person been deployed to cod evidence. The occurrence alarm strategy provided successful the manager activated instantly upon detection of smoke/fire, according to railway sources.

The manager mechanic and bed-roll staff, on with the bid TTE, promptly alerted the passengers and efficaciously utilised the occurrence extinguishers disposable successful the coach, thereby preventing further dispersed to different coaches, the sources added.

Home Minister V. Anita and TDP State president Palla Srinivasa Rao condoled the decease of the rider and expressed their sympathies to the bereaved household members.

Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed daze and sorrow implicit the tragic occurrence accident. He urged the authorities and railway authorities to instrumentality contiguous steps to guarantee the champion imaginable aesculapian attraction for the injured and to widen each indispensable enactment to the affected passengers.

The railways person opened Helpline numbers to supply accusation connected the mishap and moving of trains. They are: Elamanchili 7815909386; Anakapalle 7569305669; Tuni 7815909479; Samalkot 7382629990; Rajahmundry 0883-2420541/43; Eluru 7569305268; Vijayawada 0866-2575167.

Trains cancelled: As a autumn retired of the occurrence accident, 67286 Visakhapatnam-Rajahmundry passenger, leaving Visakhapatnam connected December 29 has been cancelled and successful the instrumentality direction, 67285 Rajahmundry-Visakhapatnam, scheduled to permission Rajahmundry, connected December 30 is besides cancelled. Train no. 17268 Visakhapatnam-Kakinada express, leaving Visakhapatnam connected December 29 is cancelled, according to an authoritative release.