A fire erupted in the Amritsar-Saharsa Garib Rath Express near Sirhind railway station in Punjab on Saturday morning, causing panic among passengers. The incident occurred around 7:22 AM when flames broke out in the G-19 AC coach as the train was en route to Ambala Cantt, without a scheduled stop at Sirhind.

Officials reported that the Government Railway Police (GRP), Northern Railway staff, and local fire services responded quickly to the emergency. The fire was extinguished promptly, and all passengers were safely evacuated to adjacent coaches. However, one female passenger suffered minor burns and was taken to the Civil Hospital in Fatehgarh Sahib, where her condition is stable.

Rattan Lal, Station House Officer of GRP Fatehgarh Sahib, stated that initial investigations suggest an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire, as no explosives or flammable materials were found at the scene. To mitigate damage, the affected G-19 coach and two adjoining coaches were detached from the train.

A railway attendant, Amandeep Singh, played a crucial role in the evacuation by pulling the alarm chain to stop the train. Following the incident, train services were temporarily halted for safety inspections and repairs, leaving some passengers stranded for several hours. Authorities confirmed that the situation was under control and a detailed investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of the fire. The train is expected to resume its journey shortly after ensuring passenger safety.