Fire in Gouthami Express, 4 killed

HYDERABAD: Four passengers, including a pregnant woman, were charred to death and three others injured when a fire broke out in a moving train in Andhra Pradesh early this morning.

The fire broke out in S-9, one of the sleeper coaches, of the Secunderabad-Kakinada Gouthami express and soon spread to four other coaches, railway officials and police said.

"The fire broke out in S-9 coach and soon spread to four other coaches," South Central Railway spokesman P Krishnaiah said.

The mishap, apparently due to short circuit, occurred at around 1.30 a.m. in a forest area between Tallapusalapalli and Mehboobabad stations in the Waranagal district, about 250 kms from the state capital.

A pregnant woman and three physically challenged persons, all belonging to west Godavari district, were burnt to death, officials said.

Passengers travelling in the train said a plume of smoke engulfed the affected coaches and a scene of chaos prevailed and some people jumped out of the train.

"The rescue teams from Secunderabad, Kazipet and Vijaywada were immediately rushed to the spot and burning coaches were detached from the train," Krishnaiah said.

The injured passengers were admitted to a government hospital in Warangal.

Andhra Pradesh minister G Surya Rao, who was also travelling in the ill-fated train was safe, officials said.

Following the accident, several trains on Hyderabad- Vijaywada section were cancelled while some others diverted.