Passengers in the C5 coach of the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express experienced some tense moments after a powder-like smoke engulfed the bogie as the train was nearing the Aluva railway station in Ernakulam district of Kerala around 8.55 a.m on February 28 (Wednesday). No casualty was reported.
The train was halted at an unscheduled stop between Kalamassery and Aluva and the passengers were shifted to the nearby coach. The journey was resumed from the Aluva station by around 9.25 a.m after the smoke was cleared.
Fire extinguisher activated
Though the passengers initially suspected a leak from the air-conditioning unit, the Railways have clarified that a white mist emerged following the automatic activation of the fire extinguisher inside the toilet in the coach.
The CCTV footage was examined after the train reached Kasaragod to ascertain whether any passenger had smoked inside the toilet, resulting in the automatic activation of the fire extinguisher. No passenger was seen using the toilet at the time of the incident as per the visuals.
An official communication issued by the Railways stated that the automatic activation occurred after a cleaning staff inadvertently pulled the safety catch of the fire extinguisher. The facility is designed to be activated automatically upon detecting excessive heat/smoke. The coach was filled with white mist and there were no signs of fire or mechanical’/electrical defects, it said.
As the smoke spread, a few of the passengers experienced mild suffocation, causing them to cough. They remained tense as the fire alarm kept ringing for some time. The situation was brought under control after the train reached the Aluva station.
