Tragedy averted at rly station

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 25

A fire broke out in one of the trains parked at the railway station in the city on Saturday afternoon. Railway station and fire brigade officials said the fire was controlled in time and a major incident was averted. 

Meanwhile, the fire brigade officer cited negligence on part of the railway station staff in taking stock of the situation. On the other hand Station Superintendent Ajit Singh Cheema rejected all claims. Officials said the reason behind the fire was yet to be found. 

“A minor fire broke out in one of the trains parked at the railway station on Saturday afternoon. No passenger was present inside the bogey at the time of the incident,” said Cheema. 

Officials present on the site tried to douse flames and informed the fire brigade, he added. The fire was controlled within time and a major mishap was averted, he said. 

“An employee saw smoke emanating from a bogey and called the fire brigade. The fire was doused within 25 minutes and only a few seats in the bogey were damaged. A major incident was averted,” said Inspector GS Ahluwalia.

 “We received a call at about 1 pm and reached the spot to douse the flames in time. Later, none of the employees of the Railways was available to take stock of the situation,” said Jatinder Pal Singh, Additional District Fire Officer (ADFO). 

When questioned, Station Superintendent Cheema rejected the claims and said Railway officials were present on spot. They called the fire brigade and managed the situation responsibly, he added.