Sylhet: The locomotive of the Chattogram-bound intercity train Udayan Express caught fire in South Surma upazila of Sylhet on Wednesday night. The train had departed from Sylhet Railway Station around 10:00pm and as it reached the Shibbari Parairchok area in South Surma, passengers noticed smoke and fire sparks emanating from the engine.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the loco masters acted swiftly, stopping the train immediately upon sensing danger. This quick action helped prevent any injuries as panic spread among passengers, some of whom attempted to jump off the train. Fortunately, many were able to disembark safely once the train was halted.
Local residents reported that smoke appeared suddenly from the engine, followed by flames, which caused alarm among the passengers. Sylhet Railway Station Manager Md Nurul Islam remarked that local people were instrumental in controlling the fire initially, before Fire Service personnel arrived to fully extinguish it.
Fire Service Warehouse Inspector Tito Shikder explained that the incident was caused by cloth pieces that had been mistakenly placed near the engine's silencer for drying. The heat from the engine during operation set these cloth pieces on fire. He noted that three fire service units worked together to put out the flames.
Following a thorough inspection, the train was deemed safe and resumed its journey towards its destination. Railway authorities confirmed that there was no major damage to the engine due to the incident.