Ongole (AP) (PTI): Less than two months after the Gouthami Express tragedy, fire broke out in Secunderabad-Tirupati Padmavati Express in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, but all passengers managed to escape safely.

The fire broke out in AC coach B-1 of the train at around 3:30 am at Rajupalem village near Ulavapadu station in Prakasam district and soon spread to the adjacent A-1 coach.

A major tragedy was averted as alert passengers pulled the chain to stop the train and managed to rush out quickly with the help of railway personnel.

A South Central Railway spokesman said the station master of Ulavapadu station noticed the smoke coming out of the B-1 coach and alerted the driver and guard of the train.

The two coaches were quickly detached from rest of the train preventing the fire from spreading to other bogies, he said.

While one of the bogies was gutted in fire, another bogie was also badly burnt, he said.

Some passengers suffered breathlessness due to thick smoke but their condition improved soon after medical assistance.

The train resumed its onward journey to Tirupati at 6 am, the spokesman said.

A team of officials and forensic experts rushed to the spot and began a probe into the incident.

Meanwhile, Chief PRO of the South Central Railway P Krishnaiah did not rule out sabotage as a reason for the accident.

As many as 32 passengers were charred to death in a massive fire tragedy in Secunderabad-Kakinada Gouthami Express on August 1 this year.