GUWAHATI: A fire broke out in an air-conditioned coach of the Kerala–Delhi Rajdhani Express in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam district on Sunday morning, May 17, prompting an emergency response from railway authorities. No injuries were reported, officials confirmed.
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According to railway officials, the blaze erupted at around 5:15 AM in the B-1 coach of Train No. 12431 Rajdhani Express while it was travelling between Vikramgarh Alot and Luni Richha railway stations. The coach was carrying 68 passengers at the time of the incident.
The fire also spread to the second luggage-cum-guard van (SLR) attached behind the affected coach. Railway authorities immediately halted the train and disconnected the overhead electric supply (OHE) as a precautionary measure.
A video showed thick, dense plumes of black smoke billowing high into the air from the detached rake.
Major fire on Rajdhani Express traveling from Thiruvananthapuram to Hazrat Nizamuddin.
Passengers evacuated. pic.twitter.com/RRf3tKHIWn
— With Love Bihar (@WithLoveBihar) May 17, 2026
All passengers from the affected coach were safely evacuated and later accommodated in other coaches to continue their journey towards Kota in Rajasthan. Officials said the damaged coach and guard van were detached from the train before operations resumed.
The Rajdhani Express resumed its journey at around 9:45 am after safety checks were completed. An additional coach will be attached at Kota to restore the train’s full carrying capacity.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and an investigation has been launched.
The Rajdhani Express had departed from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala on Friday and was scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station in Delhi on Sunday afternoon. At the time of the incident, the train had already travelled nearly 2,500 kilometres and was around 650 kilometres away from the national capital.