Fire in Daund-Pune shuttle train after passenger throws cigarette; held

A minor fire broke out in the lavatory of the moving Daund-Pune shuttle train on Monday morning after a passenger allegedly threw a lighted cigarette in a dustbin there, causing panic among passengers, police said.
The blaze was quickly doused and no one was injured in the incident which occurred near Yavat in Pune district at around 8 am, an official from Daund railway police station said.
A 55-year-old person, who prima-facie seemed to be mentally unstable, was detained in connection with the incident and handed over to police, a railway spokesperson said.
The train was held up at Yavat station for about 20 minutes due to the incident, as per railway officials.
The shuttle train service operates daily between Daund town and Pune city, covering a distance of nearly 75 km and passing through seven stations in between.
As per preliminary information, a passenger from Madhya Pradesh allegedly threw a 'bidi' (hand-rolled thin cigarette) into a dustbin of the Daund-Pune DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) train after smoking, which led to the fire, the police official said.
"The incident occurred around 8 am. There were papers and other trash in the bin, which caught fire, resulting in smoke billowing from the toilet and causing panic among passengers," the official said.
There were only a few passengers in that coach, he said.
The fire was quickly extinguished and no one was injured in the incident, the official added.
Railway officials said the train suffered a 20-minute detention at the Yavat station.

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Hindustan Times

6 days ago

• Hindustan Times

Train delayed as fire breaks out in Daund–Pune DEMU, no injuries

Police said a minor fire broke out in one of the coaches of the Daund–Pune diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) train on Monday at Yevat railway station, causing panic among passengers. No injuries were reported. According to officials from the Pune railway division, the train had halted at Yevat station around 7:52 am when an elderly man entered a coach, lit a 'bidi,' and discarded it into a garbage bin near the toilets. The bin caught fire, leading to smoke filling the coach. As the train was stationed at the platform, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and station staff quickly responded and extinguished the fire using onboard fire extinguishers. Officials said there were only a few passengers in that coach. 'The fire was brought under control by our staff using extinguishers. The train was delayed by about 20 minutes, from 7:52 am to 8:14 am, and then resumed its journey as normal,' said Hemantkumar Behera, spokesperson, Pune railway division. The 55-year-old beggar, originally from Madhya Pradesh, was taken into custody by RPF personnel. 'He has been identified and handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRP). He has also been sent for medical examination,' said Priyanka Sharma, RPF Pune commissioner. The shuttle train service operates daily between Daund town and Pune city, covering a distance of nearly 75 km.

Time of India

6 days ago

• Time of India

Smoke from washroom fire in Daund-Pune shuttle's coach causes panic

Pune: There was fire and thick smoke in a crowded compartment on the Daund-Pune shuttle after an allegedly mentally unstable man burnt paper or bidi in the washroom, causing overall panic among passengers on Monday morning. Smoke and fire was spotted around 7.52am when the train was approaching Yavat railway station. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) was alerted on the helpline number and the train stopped at Yavat. Passengers realised a man was stuck inside the washroom and alerted officials after which he was rescued through the window. Additional superintendent of police (railways) Rohidas Pawar told TOI, "A passenger (58) from Madhya Pradesh was stuck inside the washroom of coach number CR 178378 while smoking a bidi. He threw the lit bidi in the dustbin and this led to the fire and fumes. Passengers panicked and alerted RPF officials, who informed the Govt Railway Police and the railway authorities." Pawar said the railway authorities did not register a complaint under provisions of the Indian Railway Act, because no damage was caused to the train. RPF's divisional security commissioner Priyanka Sharma said, "The passenger who was smoking the bidi was medically examined at a govt hospital. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Install the Perfect Pool at Home – Start Here Backyard Pool | Search Ads Learn More Undo He was handed over to the railway police. A joint report related to the fire incident will be submitted by the railway/RPF officials to the railway police, following which an FIR will be registered." Divisional commercial manager and public relations officer of the Pune rail division Hemant Kumar Behera said the smoke was first seen when the train was near Yavat. "An individual lit a bidi or paper in the toilet and locked it from inside. The fire was not because of an electrical short circuit. The pointsman and other railway staffers rescued the man by breaking a window and handed him over to the RPF. The train resumed its journey after safety checks. Neither the culprit nor any passengers suffered injuries," Behera said. "The person was found to be mentally unstable and taken into custody. The RPF are conducting further investigations," the official said. Secretary of the Daund-Pune-Daund Pravasi Sangh Vikas Deshpande said the train was crowded it being a Monday. "Incidents like these expose the railways' claim about security and safety in trains. This incident could have escalated into a major fire and cost lives. It has been years since the Pune-Daund route was electrified, but DEMU (diesel electrical multiple unit) trains still operate. We have been demanding that these trains be replaced by EMU (Electric Multiple Units), but no steps have been taken. The railways should stop risking the lives of passengers and strengthen security on trains," he added.

Business Standard

7 days ago

• Business Standard

Fire in Daund-Pune shuttle train after passenger throws cigarette; held

A minor fire broke out in the lavatory of the moving Daund-Pune shuttle train on Monday morning after a passenger allegedly threw a lighted cigarette in a dustbin there, causing panic among passengers, police said. The blaze was quickly doused and no one was injured in the incident which occurred near Yavat in Pune district at around 8 am, an official from Daund railway police station said. A 55-year-old person, who prima-facie seemed to be mentally unstable, was detained in connection with the incident and handed over to police, a railway spokesperson said. The train was held up at Yavat station for about 20 minutes due to the incident, as per railway officials. The shuttle train service operates daily between Daund town and Pune city, covering a distance of nearly 75 km and passing through seven stations in between. As per preliminary information, a passenger from Madhya Pradesh allegedly threw a 'bidi' (hand-rolled thin cigarette) into a dustbin of the Daund-Pune DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) train after smoking, which led to the fire, the police official said. "The incident occurred around 8 am. There were papers and other trash in the bin, which caught fire, resulting in smoke billowing from the toilet and causing panic among passengers," the official said. There were only a few passengers in that coach, he said. The fire was quickly extinguished and no one was injured in the incident, the official added. Railway officials said the train suffered a 20-minute detention at the Yavat station.