Gautami Express catches fire; 8 dead

Hyderabad: Eight passengers, including two women, were killed and 40 others were injured when a fire broke out in Kakinada bound Gautami express in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh early on Friday morning. \"The fire broke in one of the sleeper coaches of the Secunderabad-Kakinada Gautami express near Mehboobabad early this morning,\" railway officials said. The fire soon spread to three other coaches, he added. The causes of the fire are yet to be ascertained, however, initial report indicates towards a possible short-circuit. The train was running between Secunderanad and Kakinada town when four coaches of the train were damaged. Following the incident, several other trains passing through the route were delayed for 2-4 hours. A major disaster, however, averted due to the alertness of the railway staff. The train staff swung into action as soon as they discovered the fire and stopped the train. They soon unloaded the passengers. However, of the two women, who were killed, one was pregnant and the other was disabled – possibly the reason why they could not get out of their bogies in time.

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