Konkan Railway orders probe as mischief angle not ruled out
A bogie of a stationary train on fire at Margao railway station.
MARGAO
A bogie of a stationary train was engulfed in a major fire at Margao on Friday afternoon, causing extensive damage.
While foul play has not been ruled out, the Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) has constituted an inquiry panel to ascertain the cause of the blaze.
The Margao fire brigade faced difficulty accessing the tracks, forcing firefighters to climb over a retaining wall carrying hoses to begin operations. Railway authorities immediately shut down power supply to the overhead electric lines as a precautionary measure.
The fire reportedly broke out around noon after smoke was seen billowing from the bogie of the stationary special train scheduled to depart for Panvel on Saturday. Before the fire brigade arrived, railway staff attempted to contain the blaze using extinguishers. Full-fledged firefighting operations began after fire personnel reached the site.
Margao Fire Officer Gill D’Souza said the cause of the fire remains unknown.
KRC senior official PR Baban Ghatge said the inquiry panel would determine the cause of the fire and further action would follow accordingly.
He added that alert railway personnel immediately detached the burning bogie from the train, preventing the fire from spreading.
