The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Fire in Narayanadri Express

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Tuesday, Dec 04, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Fire in Narayanadri Express

Staff Reporter

Unidentified teenaged girl burnt beyond recognition

The train was stationed at the lower yard of Bhoiguda for cleaning and washing
20 firemen struggle for nearly two hours to put out the flames

– Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

Charred: The damaged sleeper coaches of the Narayanadri Express at Secunderabad Railway Station on Monday.

HYDERABAD: An unidentified teenaged girl was charred to death after fire broke out in Narayanadri Express at the Bhoiguda yard gutting three of its compartments completely and another partially on Monday morning.

Forensic doctors of the Gandhi Medical College, who performed an on-the-spot autopsy, reportedly opined that that burns on her body were anti-mortem in nature.

The police were left with no leads to identity her since the body got burnt beyond recognition.

The Tirupati - Secunderabad Express was brought to the lower yard at Bhoiguda for cleaning after it arrived at the Secunderabad Railway Station in the early hours. Around 7.30 a.m., woman constables of Railway Protection Force (RPF) returning from a parade noticed smoke billowing out of the stationary train and alerted their higher-ups.

The Railway police said railway workers cleaning the coaches too saw flames emanating from the front portion of the train.

Four fire-tenders from Secunderabad, Moula Ali, Musheerabad and Malakpet stations were rushed to Secunderabad station. Over 20 firemen struggled for nearly two hours to put out the flames. The railway workers detached the S-4 compartment before flames engulfed it. By then, however, it was partially burnt while the S-1, S-2 and S-3 compartments were totally gutted. Firemen noticed the charred body in bay-6 in S-2 coach.

But the police could not explain how the girl got into the train which was brought to the yard for washing after all the passengers alighted and what could have triggered the fire. The police said they are probing from all angles, including possible sabotage.

Railway workers who were unwilling to be quoted said sometimes beggars and the destitute sleep in the trains. With vehicle parking lot located adjacent to it, people have access to the yard though the RPF men keep tab on strangers.

SCR release

Meanwhile, an SCR spokesman said in a press release that the fire is suspected to have broken out from S-2 coach in which the girl’s charred remains were found. The spokesman said the train arrived at Secunderabad at 7 a.m. and there after the empty rake was backed to the yard for maintenance at 7.30 a.m. After the rake was stabled, the railway staff noticed smoke emanating from the coaches.

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