A man from Tamil Nadu on Tuesday tried to immolate himself in the toilet of the Trivandrum-Netravathi Express train in Kerala, suffering 40 percent burns, authorities said.

The train was headed from Thiruvananthapuram to the Lokamanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai.

The bogie that was adjacent to the AC-coach was set ablaze by Anas -a native of Tamil Nadu- after he failed to snatch a bag from one of the passengers, when the train had halted at Kayamkulam station in Alappuzha district around 12 noon.

Police said the man, from Vellore in Tamil Nadu, appeared to be of unsound mind and had been taken into custody. He has been shifted to the Alappuzha Medical College Hospital.

After being chased by the passengers, Anas reportedly ran into the bathroom, poured petrol over his clothes and set himself on fire. The fire soon spread to the entire bogie.

Luckily for the passengers, since the train was stationary at that time, they could rush out to save themselves, thereby avoiding a massive disaster.

 According to witnesses, smoke started to come of the general compartment of the train, positioned near the engine.

The fire was later put out by officials and the bogie was detached from the main body. Anas who has been detained by the police has reportedly sustained burn injuries