Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express Fire: 1 Dead as 2 AC Coaches Gutted in Andhra Pradesh

A tragic rail accident has shaken the coastal route of Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of Monday, December 29, 2025. A massive fire gutted two air-conditioned coaches of the Tatanagar–Ernakulam Express (Train No. 18189), claiming the life of a senior citizen.

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The thing is, the journey was supposed to be a quiet overnight run through the winter chill. Or nothing. Let’s be real, when the clock hit 1:30 AM, that peace turned into a nightmare of thick smoke and orange flames near Duvvada. Those too.

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The Incident: What Went Wrong?

The fire reportedly started in the B1 AC coach and quickly leaped to the adjacent M2 coach.

• The Cause: While a formal inquiry is underway, preliminary reports suggest overheated brakes in the B1 coach sparked the blaze. Another investigation angle is looking at the linen storage area, which may have acted as fuel.

• The Detection: Loco pilots spotted sparks and smoke near Yelamanchili and slammed on the emergency brakes. By the time the train ground to a halt, the two coaches were already “towers of fire.”

• The Victim: 70-year-old Chandrasekhar Sundar, a resident of Vijayawada, was tragically trapped inside the B1 coach and couldn’t be reached in time.

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The Rescue and Chaos

Panic was absolute. Passengers—nearly 160 across the two coaches—rushed out into the freezing night.

• Evacuation: Railway staff managed to uncouple the burning coaches to save the rest of the train.

• Alternative Travel: Authorities arranged APSRTC buses to ferry the stranded passengers to Samarlakota, where three replacement coaches were attached so the journey could continue.

• Delays: The fire paralyzed the Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada line for hours, delaying major trains like the Puri–Tirupati Express and the Vande Bharat.

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Helpline Numbers Issued

If you have family on this route, the South Central Railway has set up emergency desks: | Location | Helpline Number | | :— | :— | | Elamanchili | 7815909386 | | Anakapalle | 7569305669 | | Vijayawada | 0866-2575167 | | Samalkot | 7382629990 |

And here’s the kicker: most passengers lost everything—luggage, documents, and valuables—to the flames. It’s an ongoing situation where the Railway Ministry has announced ex-gratia for the family of the deceased, but the trauma of that night is going to stick around for a long time.

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End…

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