Date:03/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/03/stories/2008080350280100.htm

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Inflammable material cause of fire?

Special Correspondent

Oil patches found in the aisle of Gautami Express between two toilets

HYDERABAD: Distinct oil marks found in the S-10 coach of Gautami Express have lent strong impression to South Central Railway authorities that Friday’s devastating fire that consumed 31 lives may have been caused by inflammable material aboard the train.

These patches were found in the aisle between the two toilets and were videographed. According to Panabaka Krishnaiah, Chief Public Relations Officer, SCR, the intensity of the fire and the raging inferno later showed that it was sudden and not gradual. Moreover, a cooking stove was also found in the compartment. “The fire could have either been wanton or accidental,” he significantly stated in reply to a question.

FSL observations

“It could not have been caused by the hot axle phenomenon that mainly occurs in summer and leaves round burn marks. Even the theory of short-circuit does not appear plausible as all were sleeper coaches that are not easily prone to such a fire unlike the air-conditioned coaches that consume heavy power,” he told The Hindu.

The SCR’s observations are partly in tune with those of the Forensic Science Laboratory that believes the fire indeed started in the S-10 compartment, probably in the fourth and fifth bays.

Meanwhile, 34 hours after the mishap, doctors at MGM Hospital in Warangal have completed post-mortem of the remains of all the 29 charred bodies. They established the sex of nine as female and seven as male while the remaining will be re-examined, said A. Ravi Chandra, Superintendent, Government Railway Police, Secunderabad, now camping in Warangal. Two others have been identified on Friday and handed over to relatives.

Agony of relatives

In Warangal, the skulls and other remains of the dead were taken in separate plastic bags to the MGM Hospital mortuary. Each bag was with the seat numbers from where they were found.

Many relatives of the deceased passengers were going round in circles to find them. The SCR designated Deputy Superintendent (Railways), Kazipet, K. Krishna Prasad, to help in identification and handing over the bodies.

The relatives have been asked to approach him with photographs which would be superimposed on pictures of the skulls. Where possible, DNA tests will be conducted on the bodies to fix their identity. Mr. Krishna Prasad can be contacted on 094406-27512 and Inspector Shravan Kumar at 094406-27517.