West Central Railway has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the fire incident on the Thiruvananthapuram–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express near Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, on May 17, 2026. The committee will examine technical causes, safety lapses, and recommend preventive measures to strengthen passenger safety.
The fire broke out around 5:15 AM between Vikramgarh Alot and Luni Richha stations in Kota Division. The blaze affected the B-1 AC passenger coach and the adjoining luggage brake and generator car. Swift action by railway staff ensured that all 68 passengers in the affected coach were safely evacuated, and no casualties were reported.
Railway authorities immediately cut the overhead electric supply, detached the affected coaches, and contained the fire. Restoration efforts were launched to minimize disruption on the busy Mumbai–Delhi corridor, though several trains faced delays and regulation.
The inquiry committee, led by the Principal Chief Safety Officer of WCR, includes senior officials such as the Principal Chief Electrical Engineer, Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer, Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer from ICF Chennai, Executive Director (PS & EMU) from RDSO, and the Principal Chief Security Commissioner of WCR. The committee has been tasked to submit its findings under the Railway Accident Manual guidelines.
In a related incident, five railway staff sustained injuries when a van carrying repair equipment overturned while heading to the accident site. Despite this setback, railway teams continued restoration work to ensure passenger safety and resume normal operations.
Indian Railways has reaffirmed its commitment to passenger safety, assuring that the inquiry will identify root causes and strengthen preventive measures against such incidents in the future.
