Mumbai local train wheel catches fire; passengers leap from coach to escape

A local train wheel on Thursday morning caught fire near Asangaon station in Maharashtra's Thane district. According to officials, it was due to "brake binding". However, no passengers were hurt.

A video of the incident, which took place roughly 70 km away from Mumbai, went viral on social media in which a passenger was seen jumping out of the train which had stopped.



"The incident occurred at 8.55 am at Asangaon station, located 70 km from Mumbai, when the local train was heading to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (in south Mumbai) from Kasara in Thane," a Central Railway (CR) spokesperson revealed.

The official added that no passenger was injured in the incident which took place due to "brake binding", in which the brakes get jammed with wheels and friction between the two leads to smoke or even fire some times.

"The local train was detained at Asangaon station home signal from 8.55 am to 9.07 am," the spokesperson said.

The railway staff concerned attended to it and the rake was later running normally, the official said, adding a detailed investigation will be conducted after the rake goes to car shed.

The Central Railway operates nearly 1,800 suburban services daily on its four corridors, including the main line connecting areas of Thane and Raigad districts with Mumbai.

Around 40 lakh passengers travel on Central Railway suburban locals every day.