Petrol vapour ignition sparks fire at Shakur Basti railway station, no casualties

New Delhi: A fire broke out in a petrol-laden tank wagon at Shakur Basti Railway Station on Monday after a leakage led to the accumulation of highly inflammable vapours near the manhole lid, police said, adding that the fire was quickly doused.

The incident was reported on Monday afternoon at the Sarai Rohilla Railway Police Station. The tank wagon was parked in the railway yard when fuel leaked from the manhole lid, causing vapours to build up. The vapours ignited after a spark, officials said.

The train's driver and guard, who were present at the site, noticed the spark and immediately alerted police personnel deployed in the railway yard. The flames briefly spread due to nearby wiring but were quickly brought under control, a police officer said.

Railway staff acted promptly, using fire extinguishers and other safety equipment to contain the blaze at an early stage, police added.

DCP (Railway) B Bharat Reddy said immediate steps were taken to secure the area, prevent unauthorised access and coordinate with relevant authorities. "Preventive safety measures have also been initiated to avoid any recurrence," he said.

No casualties or injuries were reported, and there was no significant damage to property. A technical inspection of the tank wagon is underway, and a detailed inquiry has been initiated to ascertain the exact cause and fix responsibility, police said.