Date:22/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/22/stories/2008082259760500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Inflammable substance sets off fire in Gautami

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: It was highly inflammable substance (in liquid or solid form) present in S-10 coach that resulted in fire in Gautami Express that left 31 passengers dead and nine injured on August 1, railway officials said on Thursday. R.P. Agarwal, Commissioner of Railway Safety, South Central Circle, Secunderabad, who conducted a statutory inquiry into the ghastly fire accident, opined that some unidentified person or persons kept the inflammable material in S-10 coach. He, however, did not confirm if keeping the inflammable substance was an act of sabotage or accidental.

The preliminary report said the fire could have originated from the floor level when the train was running at 75 kmph speed from Nekkonda. Fire coaches of the train were burnt in the fire accident when it was between Kesamudram and Tadlapusalapalli railway stations. Different theories, including sabotage by extremists and hot axle, did rounds while investigation was on to find out how fire broke out in the running train. Forensic experts conducted thorough examination separately.