A moving passenger train's engine suddenly caught fire in Purbadhola upazila of Netrokona on Wednesday morning.
Local residents and firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to bring the blaze under control after nearly an hour of effort.
The fire broke out on the Balaka Down train near Balughata Bridge on the Shyamganj-Jaria railway line around 11:45am.
According to witnesses and sources at Purbadhola Railway Station, the Balaka train had left Kamalapur Station for Jaria in Purbadhola at 5:30am. It reached Purbadhola station at around 11:30am and resumed its journey three minutes later. However, as it neared Balughata Bridge, flames suddenly erupted from the engine.
Locals immediately attempted to douse the fire before fire service personnel arrived and fully extinguished it.
Purbadhola Railway Station Master Abul Momen said: "The fire originated from a mechanical issue in the engine. Sensing the danger, the driver promptly stopped the train. The engine sustained damage in the fire. A rescue train engine has been dispatched from Mymensingh. Train movement on the Jaria-Shyamganj railway line has been suspended since 11:45am."
