In a major incident at Bihar’s Simri Bakhtiyarpur Railway Station, a fire broke out in the engine and three coaches of the Samastipur-Saharsa Passenger train (number 63344) early on Monday, August 3, 2026. Fortunately, all passengers were evacuated safely, and no injuries or casualties were reported. Railway authorities acted swiftly to manage the situation, and operations were restored within a few hours.
- Incident Time: The fire started at approximately 3:00 AM.
- Affected Train: Samastipur-Saharsa Passenger (63344).
- Location: Simri Bakhtiyarpur Railway Station, Saharsa district, Bihar.
- Casualties: None reported; all passengers evacuated safely.
- Current Status: Train operations resumed by 6:00 AM after firefighting efforts.
Details of the Incident and Rescue
According to reports, the fire was first noticed by a passenger named Mohammad Yusuf, who felt intense heat radiating from beneath one of the bogies. Upon spotting the flames, he immediately raised an alarm, prompting passengers to evacuate the train. Many commuters were forced to jump from the coaches to safety as the fire began to spread across the front sections of the train. Firefighting teams arrived at the scene and worked for two-and-a-half hours to successfully extinguish the blaze.
Impact on Rail Operations
Simri Bakhtiyarpur Station Superintendent Sanjay Kumar Sajjan confirmed that the incident caused significant disruption to rail traffic in the region. Several key services, including the Kosi Express, Janki Express, Saharsa-Samastipur Passenger, and Shravani Special, faced delays while the tracks were cleared and declared safe for movement. Normalcy was restored on the line shortly after 6:00 AM.
Investigation Underway
Railway authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire. While the inquiry is ongoing, preliminary findings point toward a short circuit as the most likely cause of the mishap. Further technical inspections of the affected rolling stock are expected to be conducted to prevent similar incidents in the future.