KANNUR: Latheesh is still gripped in fear. A quick instinct to run to the next coach saved him from the fire. Moments after the incident, many media approached Latheesh, but the Pinarayi native was speechless. P V Latheesh is Kannur KSEB's assistant executive engineer. He was back on his way from Angamali celebrating a get-together of the engineering batch of his times.

Latheesh found a seat near the door in the D1 coach. After some time, he saw a short man in a red shirt reaching with two bottles. Stationed near him, the man started opening the bottle and quickly spilled the liquid down on the heads of nearby passengers. It took only a split second for Latheesh to scent it as kerosene as he jumped to run away to the D2 coach. He says, hearing the loud cries of women and children. The fire spread quickly. Somebody pulled the chain which made the train halt in the middle of a bridge. Cries went bigger and somehow he helped many people reach the hospital. Most of the passenger's clothes were severely burned.