Shaken by fire on Nanded Bangalore train, Kharge assures steps to prevent recurrence

Union Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said that necessary steps will be taken after the reason for the fire break out in the Nanded-Bangalore express which resulted in the death of over 23 people.

"All necessary steps will be taken immediately after the reason for the fire is known. If anybody is found guilty of negligence in the staff, action will be taken against him," said Kharge.

Addressing the media, he said that this was the first incident where there was a railway accident without any explosives this year.

"This is the first accident in the railways this year that did not happen due to explosives. But we are still clueless about how it happened. Whether it was the lack of maintenance, negligence of the staff, or fault in the electricity, we will find out.

At least 23 people were killed and nine others injured after a fire broke out in an air conditioned bogie of the Nanded-Bangalore Express in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur District early today.

The injured have reportedly been admitted to the Dharmavaram Hospital in the district.

Media reports said the fire broke out in the second air conditioned bogie of the train number 16594 that was going from Bangalore to Nanded. There were at least 64 passengers in the bogie.

The train had left Bangalore at 10:45 p.m. on Friday night. The fire broke out when the train was near the Prasanthi Nilayam ashram in Anantapur District around 3 a.m.

A few people reportedly jumped out of the train on noticing the fire.

A shocked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has directed the Railways and the Andhra Pradesh Government to extend all possible help to the victims.