A devastating fire broke out early Sunday morning on a diesel-laden goods train near Tiruvallur in Tamil Nadu, gutting 18 wagons and disrupting major train operations along the Chennai-Arakkonam route. The blaze, which began around 5:30 a.m., took nearly seven hours to fully extinguish, despite intense firefighting efforts.
The affected train was carrying approximately 12.6 lakh litres of diesel across 18 tankers, each holding 70,000 litres. All 18 wagons were destroyed, leading to a diesel loss worth ₹12 crore. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
According to Southern Railway, the fire is suspected to have started in the third wagon as the train was departing from Tiruvallur station. The loco pilot immediately applied emergency brakes, and the power supply was cut to prevent further escalation. However, flames quickly spread up to the 19th wagon, causing derailments and extensive damage.
Railway officials safely detached the locomotive and 30 unaffected wagons and moved them to safety.
The incident caused major travel disruptions, with 12 Chennai-bound trains cancelled or short-terminated, and several others diverted. Alternative transport was arranged for stranded passengers, including MTC buses.
Southern Railway GM R.N. Singh inspected the site and reviewed restoration work. The DOWN line towards Bengaluru and Mangaluru is expected to be restored soon.
In response to the incident, three Special Investigation Teams (SITs) have been formed under the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to determine the cause of the fire. Investigators are looking into technical faults or procedural lapses related to hazardous material transport. The mishap has sparked renewed concerns over railway safety protocols in India.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]

Diesel Train Fire in Tamil Nadu Gutted 18 Wagons in Blaze

Massive fire on diesel-laden goods train near Tiruvallur doused after 7 hours; no casualties reported

Diesel Train Fire in Tamil Nadu Gutted 18 Wagons in Blaze

Massive fire on diesel-laden goods train near Tiruvallur doused after 7 hours; no casualties reported

July 13, 2025 | 21:05 IST