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A fire broke out in an air-conditioned coach of the Thiruvananthapuram–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express on Sunday morning in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam district, railway officials confirmed.

The incident occurred around 5:15 am in the B-1 coach of the Delhi-bound train, which was carrying 68 passengers. Swift action by railway staff ensured that all passengers were safely evacuated within 15 minutes, with no injuries reported.

The train had departed from Ratlam Junction at approximately 3:45 am. The fire broke out between Vikramgarh Alot and Lunirichha stations under the Kota division, officials said.

According to the West Central Railway, the blaze also damaged an adjacent luggage-cum-guard van attached behind the affected coach. Railway authorities immediately cut off the overhead electric supply, and the fire was brought under control shortly after.

The damaged coach and guard van were detached from the train, allowing it to resume its journey at around 9:45 am. Officials stated that the train is expected to reach Kota Junction by 11 am, where an additional coach will be added to restore full capacity.

Passengers from the affected coach were accommodated in other compartments for the remainder of the journey. However, the incident disrupted rail traffic on the busy Delhi-Mumbai route, delaying five to six trains and causing temporary halts at multiple stations.

Railway authorities issued helpline numbers for passenger assistance, while senior officials, including Ratlam Divisional Railway Manager Ajay Kumar Kalara, monitored the situation. A relief train and a tower wagon were deployed for restoration work.

The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined and is currently under investigation.