Amaravati, December 29: A fire broke out around 12:45 a.m. in the B1 AC coach of Train No. 18189 Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express as it approached Elamanchili railway station in Anakapalle district. Flames spread quickly to an adjacent coach (reported as M2 or similar), sparking panic among passengers.
Railway staff halted the train promptly, assisted deboarding, and alerted fire services from nearby areas including Anakapalle, Elamanchili, and Nakkapalli. Firefighters controlled the blaze after several hours.
One passenger, Chandrasekhar Sundar (70) from Vijayawada, was found dead in the B1 coach, likely trapped amid the rapid spread. No other injuries were reported, though belongings in the affected coaches were destroyed.
The damaged coaches, plus one precautionary third, were detached. Affected passengers shifted by buses to Samalkot for onward travel with replacement coaches. Helplines activated across stations. Preliminary reports point to possible brake overheating as the cause; investigations by railway safety and forensic teams continue.
