10 killed in TN fire; authorities blame cylinder taken inside ‘illegally’

At least 10 persons were “reported dead” in a fire that broke out inside a stationary train compartment in Madurai railway station in the wee hours of Saturday, the Southern Railway said, adding a “gas cylinder” “illegally” taken in led to the blaze.

The “private party coach” with 65 passengers had arrived from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh.

“10 persons reported dead,” in the fire, a Southern Railway release said.

Police, fire and rescue services personnel besides railway staff, involved in dousing the fire, extricated the charred bodies from the compartment.