Freight train fire accident in Chennai: Crack found on track, sabotage attempt suspected

CHENNAI: The fire accident on a diesel carrying goods train is now suspected to be sabotage. The accident occurred at Egattur near Thiruvallur railway station at 5.30 am today. Four wagons of the train, which was going from Chennai to Mumbai, caught fire. The suspicion of sabotage was raised after a crack was found in the track about 100 meters away from the accident site. The railway police have started an investigation into the incident. Senior railway officials and the fire brigade are inspecting the area.

The train was ferrying 45 tankers (27,000 litres) of crude oil. Fire spread to other wagons from the first one. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Following the accident, visuals of a large amount of fire and smoke rising from the train were released. Train traffic on the Chennai-Arakkonam route was disrupted. Eight trains via Tiruvallur were cancelled. Five trains were diverted, and eight trains were temporarily stopped.

No injuries or fatalities were reported in the accident. Thiruvallur District Collector M Prathap had informed that about 70 per cent of the fire has been extinguished. More than ten fire force units reached the spot and brought the fire under control. People within a two-km radius of the accident were evacuated.