Karmactive Staff
A minor fire broke out in a Daund-Pune diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) train on Monday morning, causing panic among passengers but resulting in no injuries. Despite initial reports suggesting an electrical short circuit, railway officials confirmed the blaze was caused by a passenger discarding a lit bidi (local cigarette) in a toilet garbage bin.
The incident occurred around 7:52 am when the train had halted at Yavat railway station. Thick smoke quickly filled the coach after the garbage bin caught fire in the washroom area.
“The fire was not because of an electrical short circuit. An individual lit a bidi or paper in the toilet and locked it from inside,” clarified Hemant Kumar Behera, Divisional Commercial Manager and Public Relations Officer of the Pune rail division.
Quick action by Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and station staff prevented the situation from escalating. They used onboard fire extinguishers to control the flames while also rescuing a 55-year-old man who had become trapped inside the washroom.
Priyanka Sharma, RPF Pune Commissioner, stated: “The passenger who was smoking the bidi was medically examined at a government hospital. He has been handed over to the railway police.”
Officials identified the man as a 55-year-old from Madhya Pradesh who was reportedly mentally unstable. After the incident, he was taken into custody for further investigation.
The emergency response caused approximately 20 minutes of delay, with the train resuming its journey at 8:14 am after safety checks were completed.
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This incident has reignited concerns about train safety on this route. Vikas Deshpande, Secretary of the Daund-Pune-Daund Pravasi Sangh (a passenger association), criticized the continued use of DEMU trains on the electrified Pune-Daund route.
“Incidents like these expose the railways’ claim about security and safety in trains,” said Deshpande. “This incident could have escalated into a major fire and cost lives. We have been demanding that these trains be replaced by Electric Multiple Units (EMU), but no steps have been taken.”
The Daund-Pune shuttle service operates daily, covering approximately 75 kilometers between Daund town and Pune city. The train was reportedly crowded on Monday morning, which could have made the situation more dangerous had the fire spread.
Railway officials continue to remind passengers about the strict prohibition against smoking on trains, which violates Section 167 of the Indian Railways Act and poses significant safety risks.
