Around 900 passengers aboard the Dhaka-bound Chattala Express escaped unhurt after a fire broke out on Thursday, eastern zone railway officials said.
According to railway sources, although the train has 828 seats, approximately 900 passengers, including standing travellers, were on board at the time.
Divisional railway manager (DRM) of the Railway Eastern Region (Chittagong) Division Mostafizur Rahman Bhuiyan said the Chattala Express was scheduled to depart Chittagong station at 6:00am but left 20 minutes late at 6:20am. Authorities were informed of the fire at 6:43am, after which the fire service and relevant officials were alerted and worked to bring the blaze under control.
He added that the train’s power car (which supplies electricity) and one air-conditioned coach were damaged in the fire. No passengers were injured or killed. A replacement power car and AC coach were later attached, and the train departed for Dhaka at 10:45am.
Inspector Aman Ullah of Chittagong Railway Station’s security unit said all passengers managed to disembark safely and no casualties were reported.
Earlier, the fire broke out at around 6:15am on Thursday near Faujdarhat station in Sitakunda. The blaze started at some point after the train had left Chittagong for Dhaka and spread to two coaches.
Ehsan Ali, an official of Kumira Fire Station, said two fire service units began operations at 6:55am and brought the fire under control by 8:05am. The power car and an air-conditioned coach were damaged.
He said initial indications suggest the fire may have originated from engine overheating, although the matter is under investigation. The extent of the damage will be determined after a full inquiry.
Railway sources added that the train consisted of 18 coaches, including the power car. The power car, positioned sixth from the rear, and one AC coach were affected by the fire.
