Fire in Attari Express caused due to bomb explosion

A statutory inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Northern Circle, New Delhi was held into the unusual occurrence of fire in the coaches of 4001 Up Attari Special while it was running through the station section of Diwana railway station on Delhi-Ambala double line electrified section of Delhi Division of Northern Railway, at about 23.49 hours on 18.02.2007. As a result of the accident, 68 train passengers died, 07 train passengers were grievously injured and 05 train passengers received simple injuries.

Based on the evidence available so far the Commissioner has come to the tentative conclusion that the fire in 4001 Up Attari Special was caused because of the explosion of bombs kept on the upper racks near the door ways in coach numbers GS 03431 and GS 14857 of this train.

He has made the following main recommendations:

• There should be strict baggage check of the train passengers traveling by 4001 Up at Delhi Jn. Railway station as is done at Attari Railway Station since the train after starting from Delhi Jn. station stops only at Attari railway station and is received on platform which is a protected area and from where the train passengers are required to undergo immigration and customs checks and are then required to board Samjhauta Express going from Attari railway station to Wagah railway station in Pakistan.
• Identification of unclaimed or suspicious baggage should be undertaken in all the trains for safe travel of train passengers.
• Design of coaches needs a review and should provide for quick emergency exits in case of fire.
• Vestibuling of all coaches in trains should be considered, as this would be of great help to train passengers to move safely away from the coaches on fire

Source : Press Information Bureau

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