Karmabhoomi Express Fire in Punjab: Five Coaches Gutted Near Rajpura, Passengers Jump to Safety

November 6, 2026

New Delhi: A fire broke out in the Karmabhoomi Express while it was travelling through Punjab on Friday afternoon, engulfing several coaches and triggering panic among passengers. The train, which was travelling from Amritsar to New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, was stopped near Sarai Banjara railway station in Patiala district after smoke and flames were spotted.

The incident occurred between Sadhugarh in Fatehgarh Sahib district and Sarai Banjara in Patiala, close to Rajpura railway station. According to preliminary reports, five general coaches caught fire. Another report put the number of coaches engulfed in flames at four.

Passengers rushed out of the affected coaches as the fire spread, with some jumping from the moving train to escape. Thick clouds of smoke rising from the coaches were visible from a distance.

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Short Circuit Suspected as Cause of Fire

According to the Railways, train number 12508, the Karmabhoomi Express, was travelling from Amritsar to New Jalpaiguri when the fire broke out at around 1:10 pm.

Preliminary assessments suggest that a short circuit may have triggered the blaze. The loco pilot brought the train to a halt after noticing the fire. Railway officials said the train stopped safely near Sarai Banjara after its safety system was activated.

Railway Officials Reach Spot, No Casualties Reported

The railway administration, fire department and emergency response teams were alerted soon after the incident. Efforts to extinguish the fire were underway, while senior railway officials reached the spot.

Neeraj, PRO of the Ambala Railway Division, said a medical team had been dispatched to the site. DRM Vinod Kumar Bhatia also reached the location.

Northern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay said there had been no reports of casualties or injuries so far, dismissing initial reports suggesting that passengers may have been hurt.

Routes of Eight Trains Diverted

The fire disrupted rail traffic in the area, prompting the Railways to divert eight trains. According to the diversion plan issued by the Ambala division, five trains travelling in the down direction and three in the up direction were rerouted through alternative routes.

The situation at the site was being monitored by railway officials as firefighting and relief operations continued.