CHENNAI: Human error was responsible for the fire that gutted two coaches of an EMU train on the MRTS route near the Perungudi railway station on October 21, an inquiry committee has found.
The multi-department four-member enquiry committee of the Southern Railway, in its report, said that cable tripping in the middle motor coach that powers the train caused the fire.
“The committee found that the tripping was neglected by the EMU staff initially. One staff reportedly noticed it but failed to alert the maintenance department on time. This negligence caused the major fire. Southern Railway will initiate action against the concerned EMU staff for negligence,” a senior railway official told Express.
The General Manager of Southern Railway Vashishta Johri had a few days ago stated that the committee was investigating whether the fire happened because of human error or material failure. Insiders in the operating and maintenance department said that tripping on EMU coaches was a regular phenomenon. “It is noticed regularly and the only option in such cases is to stop the service. But that is rarely done,” a source stated.
The committee submitted its report to the Southern Railway last week. A meeting is expected to be held soon to decide on further action according to the railway guidelines. Fire broke out inside the fifth coach in the nine-coach formation at 8.30 am on that day while the train was heading to Chennai Beach from Velachery MRTS station with 35 passengers on board. Fortunately, no passenger was injured.
(With inputs from Siddharth Prabhakar)