Tamil Nadu train fire: UP CM announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for kin of deceased

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday expressed grief over the deaths in a fire that broke out inside a stationary train compartment at the Madurai railway station in Tamil NaduHe also announced an exgratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of people from Uttar Pradesh who died in the Tamil Nadu train fire incidentAt least nine people were reported dead in the fire inside the train compartmentInstructions have been given to provide an exgratia amount of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of every citizen of Uttar Pradesh who died in this accident the chief minister said on X formerly TwitterThe loss of lives in the unfortunate train accident in Madurai Tamil Nadu is extremely sad and heartwrenching My condolences are with the bereaved families he saidIn a statement the Uttar Pradesh government said the chief minister spoke to the railway minister and took details about the Tamil Nadu train fire incidentOn X Adityanath also said that instructions have been given to authorities to ensure that the injured receive proper treatment A tollfree number 1070 has also been issued for quick assistance he said The Uttar Pradesh also mentioned 9454441081 and 9454441075 as helpline numbersThe Southern Railways in a statement said that the fire broke out at 515 am on Saturday and fire service personnel put it out by 715 amWhile the Southern Railway initially put the toll at 10 it later revised it to nineThe fire broke out at 515 am on Saturday and Fire service personnel who arrived at the spot half an hour later put down the blaze by 715 am a Southern Railway release saidThis is a private party coach that was attached at Nagercoil Junction yesterday Aug 25 by train no 16730 PunalurMadurai Exp Party coach was detached and kept at Madurai Stabling line The passengers in the private party coach havesmuggled gas cylinder and this has caused the fire the release saidThe party coach had started the journey from Lucknow on August 17 scheduled to return to Chennai on Sunday and proceed to the UP capital from there on it addedWhile the coach was stabledparked some members of the party in the private party coach were using the illegally smuggled cooking gas cylinder unauthorisedly for preparing teasnacks which caused the fire in the stabledparked coach Most of the passengers could get out of the coach on noticing fire Some passengers had already got down at platform also before detachment of coach it addedThe private party had illegally carried gas cylinder stove and other inflammable articles which led to the freak fire accident it saidWith inputs from PTI