Anakapalli: At least one passenger was charred to death after a fire erupted in two air-conditioned coaches of the Tata Nagar–Ernakulam Express (Train No. 18189) near Duvvada in Anakapalli district in the early hours of Monday.
According to preliminary information, the train—running from Tatanagar to Ernakulam via the Visakhapatnam district—caught fire around 1.30 am shortly after crossing Duvvada. Flames were first seen in the B1 and M2 AC coaches, both positioned next to the pantry car.
🚨 Andhra Pradesh | Train Fire Incident
A fire broke out in two coaches of the Tata – Ernakulam Express near Elamanchili, Anakapalli early today.
The loco pilot halted the train immediately, enabling mass evacuation.
Sadly, one passenger (70) lost his life.
Firefighters… pic.twitter.com/2BJpJVFrbw— Rathnam News (@RathnamNews) December 29, 2025
Railway police said the blaze was spotted by loco pilots near a railway point close to Yelamanchili, prompting an immediate halt. However, the fire spread swiftly before firefighting teams could bring it under control.
Panic gripped passengers as thick smoke choked the coaches, forcing many to rush out amid poor visibility and chaos. Authorities later recovered a body from the B1 coach. The victim has been identified as Chandrasekhar Sundaram.
Railway officials have ordered a probe to determine the exact cause of the fire, while restoration and safety reviews are underway.
