Diesel-laden goods train derails, catches fire; massive blaze halts rail traffic
Babushahi Bureau
Chennai (Tamil Nadu), July 13, 2025: A major fire broke out early Sunday morning after a diesel-filled goods train derailed near Egattur village in Tiruvallurdistrict, Tamil Nadu, causing a massive scare as flames shot several feet into the sky and thick black smoke engulfed the area.
The incident occurred around 5 AM on the Chennai-Arakkonam railway track when four wagons of a goods train, carrying diesel from Chennai Port, went off the rails.
The derailment was immediately followed by a devastating blaze, which quickly spread across multiple wagons.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as terrifying, with towering flames and dense smoke visible from a great distance. The intense heat and the risk of explosion posed serious challenges for firefighters, who battled the flames for several hours.
Upon receiving the alert, teams from the local police, fire department, Railway Protection Force (RPF), station master, and senior railway officials rushed to the spot to manage the situation and prevent further damage.
Fortunately, no casualties have been reported, but significant damage was caused to the train and railway infrastructure. Rail services on the Chennai-Arakkonam route have been temporarily suspended, with multiple trains delayed, diverted, or cancelled.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the derailment and subsequent fire. Preliminary suspicion points to either a technical fault or human error, but officials are yet to confirm the exact reason.