AP forensic team submits report on railway train blaze

Andhra Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory (APFSL) experts who examined the gutted New Delhi-Chennai Tamil Nadu Express S-11 bogie in which over 30 passengers were killed, submitted a report to railway authorities.

A senior scientist, who was part of the forensic team which collected burnt samples from the bogie said that they had found fire cracker material in it which indicates that rapidly burning crackers seem to have spread the fire in the bogie. However, he said that the cause of how the fire began is still not known. Fire crackers or fire cracker powder seem to have been stored below at least six seats in the coach, he said. The forensic report was submitted to the Government Railway Police and a copy was also forwarded to the Commissioner of Railway Safety (South-Central Circle), he said. Thirty-two passengers were charred to death and 25 others injured when a fire broke out in S-11 coach of the New Delhi-Chennai Tamil Nadu Express in the wee hours on July 30 near Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh. Initially, theories like a 'blast' and 'short-circuit' did the rounds after an injured passenger called Madanlal claimed that he woke up hearing a loud blast-like noise in the coach and that there were at least two more such noises. Railway Minister Mukul Roy had earlier entrusted investigation into the mishap to Commissioner of Railway Safety (South-Central Circle) D K Singh.

PTI