Tamil Nadu ministers pay tribute to people who lost their lives in Madurai train fire

Madurai (Tamil Nadu) [India]: Tamil Nadu ministers P Moorthy, Palanivel Thiaga Rajan and other officials paid tribute to the people who lost their lives in the Madurai train fire accident on Saturday.

Nine people were killed and eight were injured after a fire broke out in a tourist train parked on Lane near Madurai railway station.

Meanwhile, the bodies of nine people who died in the train accident were taken to Chennai and Uttar Pradesh from the Madurai Government Hospital.

According to Southern Railway, a criminal case has been registered by the Government Railway Police (GRP) under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Railways Act.

On Saturday morning there was a fire in a ‘private party coach’ attached to the Punalur-Madurai Express and according to officials, the blaze was started after a gas cylinder, which was illegally used by the passengers inside the compartment exploded.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh for the kin of the deceased in the train accident.

On social media platform X (formerly Twitter) CM Stalin wrote, “Deeply saddened by the tragic incident near Madurai Railway junction where nine precious lives were lost in a train fire accident. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the deceased. To support the affected families, an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh will be provided.”

He further said that he has given instructions to the Madurai district collector Sangeetha and P Moorthy, Tamil Nadu Minister of Commercial Taxes, Registration Department to ensure that the injured receive the highest quality treatment at the Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital.

“All measures will be taken to transport the mortal remains of the deceased to their hometowns,” CM Stalin said.

Meanwhile, a Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Southern Circle, Bengaluru will conduct a statutory inquiry into the above incident.