Fire breaks out on platform 1 at Tatanagar railway station after suspected short circuit
PINAKI MAJUMDAR Jamshedpur, October 30: A fire broke out on Platform 1 of Tatanagar railway station on Friday following a suspected short…
PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, October 30: A fire broke out on Platform 1 of Tatanagar railway station on Friday following a suspected short circuit in the electrical wiring beneath the platform roof, triggering panic among passengers and disrupting movement on the platform for several hours.
Flames and thick clouds of smoke emanating from the overhead wiring quickly spread across the platform, causing considerable alarm among commuters. As smoke engulfed the area, passengers rushed towards safer locations, creating a brief spell of chaos at the busy railway station.
Fire Brigade Rushes to Spot, Blaze Brought Under Control
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred when an electrical short circuit reportedly triggered a fire in the wiring installed beneath the platform roof.
Although the flames initially appeared small, smoke began spreading rapidly, raising concerns over passenger safety.
Railway officials, staff and a fire brigade team rushed to the spot soon after the incident was reported. Firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control and prevent it from spreading to other sections of the platform.
As a precautionary measure, railway authorities restricted passenger movement on Platform 1 and kept it out of bounds for several hours until the situation was brought under control.
Railway personnel subsequently inspected the affected section and undertook necessary safety measures before considering the restoration of normal operations.
Railway Officials Examine Damaged Electrical Wiring
Preliminary indications suggest that a short circuit in the overhead electrical wiring triggered the fire. However, the exact cause of the incident is yet to be established.
Railway officials are examining the damaged wiring and associated electrical installations to ascertain the circumstances that led to the blaze.
Incident Raises Questions Over Fire Safety Arrangements
The incident has once again brought the maintenance of electrical infrastructure and fire safety arrangements at major railway stations into focus.
Tatanagar is among the busiest stations under the South Eastern Railway, handling a substantial volume of passenger traffic every day. Any fire-related emergency at such a high-footfall station can pose a serious risk to commuters, particularly during peak hours.
Although no casualties were reported in the incident, the disruption and panic among passengers have underscored the need for regular electrical audits, preventive maintenance and effective emergency response mechanisms at the station.
