29 August,2026 11:27 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
A video of the incident accessed by mid-day showed some passengers jumping out of a coach as heavy smoke was seen billowing from the train. Pic/videograb (Special Arrangement
Heavy smoke from the Koyna Express at Karjat in Maharashtra caused panic among passengers, with some jumping off the train.
A video of the incident accessed by mid-day showed some passengers jumping out of a coach as heavy smoke was seen billowing from the train.
The incident led to minor disruption in Mumbai local train services, sources said.
"The heavy smoke seen was due to the use of fire extinguishers," said Dr Swapnil Nila, Central Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer, adding that the incident occurred in one coach, the second from the rear. It had repercussions on rail services, with one mail express and two local trains being detained and delayed.
Officials said the train was detained at Karjat in Maharashtra for around 10 minutes on Saturday evening after a brake binding issue was reported. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Train brake binding is a technical malfunction in which the brake shoes, pads or discs remain firmly pressed against the train wheels, sometimes causing heavy smoke.
The train was detained between 6.26 pm and 6.36 pm while railway staff attended to the issue, officials said.
The disruption also affected rail traffic behind the Koyna Express. Two local trains were detained during the period as railway staff worked to resolve the problem.
The issue was subsequently attended to and the Koyna Express resumed its journey.
Railway authorities said there were no injuries in the incident. The brief detention caused a temporary disruption to services, with two local trains held behind the express.
According to an official statement, the Karjat Central Cabin received information from Palsdhari station that sparks were visible in a coach behind the locomotive and that the train needed to be checked.
As the train approached Karjat, DYSM Chandan Kumar and Ajit Kumar, along with pointsmen, observed the train. While the front portion appeared normal, something unusual was noticed towards the rear.
DYSM Chandan Kumar immediately used the walkie-talkie to instruct the Loco Pilot (LP) to stop the train for a detailed inspection.
The inspection revealed that the brake and spring rubber pads of coach SWR 044771, the second coach from the TM side, had caught fire.
Railway staff immediately used fire extinguishers to control the flames. A total of four fire extinguishers were used to put out the fire, the official statement said.
The smoke and flames caused panic among passengers, with a situation resembling a stampede. However, station staff quickly intervened and brought the situation under control.
After the fire was extinguished, C&W staff and pointsmen thoroughly checked the affected coach and confirmed that it was safe for the train to continue its journey.
The 11030 Up train was brought to a halt on the middle line at Karjat at 6.26 pm. After the inspection and necessary safety checks were completed, the train departed at 6.36 pm.
DYSM Chandan Kumar and Ajit Kumar, along with pointsmen Haribhau Diare, Akshay Solanke, Vishal Salokhe, Mayur Khandizor and Nilesh Ghare, played an important role in managing the situation, said an official.
Their prompt response, coordination and effective use of fire extinguishers helped prevent the fire from escalating and ensured that the passengers and train were made safe before departure, the official added.
