Major Scare on Delhi–Jaipur Garib Rath Express: Smoke Erupts from Coach, Passengers Panic

National Desk: A major scare broke out on Friday afternoon aboard the Delhi–Jaipur Garib Rath Express when smoke was seen billowing from underneath one of the coaches near Tijara Phatak in Rajasthan’s Alwar district. The incident reportedly occurred around 11:45 a.m., triggering panic among passengers.

Passengers in Panic

As soon as smoke began to rise from beneath the coach, several passengers pulled the emergency chain, bringing the train to an abrupt halt. Many travelers quickly disembarked and moved to a safe distance. Railway staff and electricians soon reached the spot to assess the situation.

Fire Caused by Jammed Brake

Preliminary investigation revealed that the coach’s brakes had jammed, causing friction and overheating, which led to the smoke and fire. Railway personnel promptly used the onboard fire control system to douse the flames. It took nearly 45 minutes to repair and cool down the brake assembly.

Train Halted for an Hour

During the incident, the train remained halted near Tijara Phatak for about an hour. Once the fire was completely extinguished and the mechanical issue resolved, passengers were safely reboarded, and the train resumed its journey. It later reached Alwar Junction and continued onward toward Jaipur–Ajmer.

Passenger Accounts

Mahendra, a passenger traveling from Delhi, said the train came to a sudden stop about two kilometers before Alwar station. “When we got down, we saw white smoke rising from beneath one of the coaches,” he recalled.

Officials’ Statements

Railway electrician Sarvesh Chaturvedi confirmed that no passengers were injured in the incident. He added that a fire brigade team also arrived as a precaution, but the fire had already been brought under control.
Station Master Rajesh Meena stated that soon after the train departed from Khairthal station, passengers pulled the emergency chain upon noticing smoke, which was later found to be caused by the overheating brake pad. The situation was managed safely near a railway cabin close to Alwar.