Train services out of Chennai faced major disruptions on Tuesday, July 13, after a goods train carrying diesel caught fire near Tiruvallur Railway Station in Tamil Nadu. Southern Railway announced the cancellation of at least ten major trains and rerouted several others following the incident.
The fire, which broke out around 5.30 am, engulfed four wagons of the train carrying 27,000 litres of diesel from the Indian Oil Corporation’s Manali refinery to Jolarpet. The blaze led to panic in the area, prompting the Tiruvallur district administration to evacuate nearby residents as a precaution. Thick smoke from the burning fuel further complicated rescue and containment efforts.
Southern Railway cancelled the following key trains from Chennai: Vande Bharat Express (20607), Shatabdi Express (12007), Kovai Superfast Express (12675), Shatabdi Express (12243), Saptagiri Express (16057), Double Decker Express (22625), Brindavan Superfast Express (12639), Nagarsol Express (16003), Coimbatore Intercity Express (12679), and Vande Bharat Express (20643).
In addition to the cancellations, five trains were diverted.
Firefighters from nearby districts, including Chennai, Kanchipuram and Chengalpet, were deployed to douse the flames. The fire, which burned for nearly five hours, was eventually brought under control using foam. Officials successfully detached 47 wagons from the train, preventing a larger disaster. NDRF teams from Arakkonam and Avadi were kept on standby.
While the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, the incident has significantly impacted rail traffic and passenger schedules in Tamil Nadu. Authorities are working to restore the services.