On Sunday morning, twelve passengers sustained injuries after they leaped from a slow-moving train in a state of panic. The chaos unfolded aboard the Howrah-Amritsar Mail near Bilpur station in Uttar Pradesh, as fumes from a fire extinguisher filled a coach. This coach was part of the general class on the train, which is under the Moradabad division of Northern Railway.Details of the incidentAccording to an official from Northern Railway, the emergency unfolded as the fumes permeated the coach. Believing a fire had erupted, passengers triggered the alarm chain to halt the train. In the ensuing panic, several passengers jumped from the train while it was still in motion, resulting in injuries to twelve individuals.Railway officials statementPrima facie, it looks like some miscreants or unruly passengers operated a fire extinguisher, creating the impression that a fire had broken out in the general coach of the moving Howrah-Amritsar Mail, officials from the Railways stated.Ongoing investigationThe Railway Protection Force has initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the incident and identify those responsible.This incident comes at a time when Indian Railways is intensifying its safety and security measures. Efforts have been ramped up in coordination with the Government Railway Police (GRP) and local police to ensure the safety of passengers, including women, on trains.
