June 17:
A fire incident aboard the Pune–Solapur passenger train triggered panic among commuters on Monday morning when smoke was noticed coming from a toilet in one of the general coaches near Yevat railway station. Authorities suspect the blaze was caused by a bidi (traditional hand-rolled cigarette) that was carelessly discarded.
Railway officials said the incident occurred shortly after the train departed from Kedgaon station. Alerted by passengers who noticed smoke, the train was immediately halted near Yevat. The onboard staff, along with Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, acted swiftly to control the situation and prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent compartments.
Following a preliminary inquiry, RPF officers detained a 55-year-old male passenger who was seen exiting the toilet moments before the smoke was detected. During questioning, the individual reportedly admitted to lighting a bidi inside the lavatory, in violation of railway safety rules.
“Smoking inside any part of the train is strictly prohibited. The accused’s negligence could have led to a far more serious incident. Appropriate legal action is being initiated under relevant sections of the Railways Act,” an RPF official confirmed.
The fire was extinguished promptly with the help of onboard equipment, and no casualties or injuries were reported. However, the incident caused considerable anxiety among passengers and raised concerns about safety and enforcement of anti-smoking rules in Indian Railways.
Railway authorities stated that the fire originated from a waste bin where the still-burning bidi was believed to have been tossed. The bin caught fire, filling the toilet with smoke and triggering alarms.
In response to the incident, officials are now considering stricter surveillance measures, including enhanced patrolling and the potential installation of CCTV cameras in common areas and toilets of select coaches. Public awareness campaigns may also be intensified to educate passengers about safety protocols.
Passengers travelling on the affected train expressed concern over the lack of compliance with basic safety norms. “Such carelessness could endanger many lives. Stronger action should be taken against those who flout the rules,” said a co-passenger from the same coach.
Indian Railways reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on smoking and appealed to passengers to immediately report any such violations to train staff or helpline numbers.
The detained individual remains in custody, and further investigation is underway.
