At least 10 people have died and more than 20 are injured in a massive fire that broke out inside a stationary train compartment in Madurai railway station early this morning. The passengers of the “private party coach” had arrived from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Bodies have been shifted to the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai and rescue operation is underway, PTI said on Saturday.

The fire broke out when a passenger lit a gas stove to make coffee, police said.

“Around 5:30 am today, there was a fire in a coach halted here at Madurai railway station. There were pilgrims traveling from Uttar Pradesh in it. When they lit the gas stove to make coffee, the gas cylinder blasted. As of now, we have retrieved nine bodies,” PTI quoted Madurai District Collector MS Sangeetha as saying.

In a statement, B. Guganesan, Chief Public Relations Officer, Southern Railway, said that the people in the private party coach snuck a gas cylinder into the train illegally, which started the fire. According to the official, on Friday, the Punalur-Madurai Express connected the coach at Nagercoil Junction and released it once it reached Madurai.

"This is a private party coach that was attached at Nagercoil Junction yesterday (Aug 25) by train no. 16730 (Punalur-Madurai Exp). Party coach was detached and kept at the Madurai Stabling line. The passengers in the private party coach have illegally smuggled gas cylinders and this caused the fire. Many passengers got out of the coach on noticing the fire. Some passengers had got down at the platform itself," the release said.

An amount of ₹10 lakh was being paid to each of the families of those who died, it said.

Southern Railway also announced two help line numbers for information related to the fire incident and causalities-- 9360552608, 8015681915.

Image source: PTI