NEW DELHI: At least nine people were killed on Saturday after a train coach parked in southern India caught fire when a passenger tried to make tea, officials said.

The coach, which had been detached from a train, was stationed at the Madurai railway yard in the southern state of Tamil Nadu when the fire broke out before dawn.

“It was a single, stationary coach booked by a private tourist operator. Somebody tried to make tea and it caused the fire,” Madurai district spokesman Sali Thalapathi said.

“Nine people have died, three of them are women. Nine others are injured but their injuries are not life-threatening.” None of the bodies had been identified so far, he added.

Footage showed huge flames leaping out of the windows of the train carriage. Some passengers managed to escape the inferno in time.

Local media reports said the passengers had illegally smuggled aboard a gas cylinder which exploded when they tried to use it.More than 50 passengers were travelling in the carriage, which was detached from the train and parked separately at the station.

The fire burned for a couple of hours before it was brought under control by firefighters, local media reported, which also said 20 people were injured in the accident.

The ANI video showed police officials inspecting the charred scene. Survivors had to break open doors to flee the compartment, according to witness accounts.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2023