Chennai, Aug 26 (UNI) Nine pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh were charred to death and eight others suffered injuries/burns when a fire broke out in a railway coach near Madurai Railway station on Saturday.
Reports received here said the deceased included three women.
The bodies were shifted to Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) where the post mortem was conducted, while the injured were admitted to the Railway Hospital and the GRH.
Seven of the nine victims were identified as Parameswar Kumar Gupta (55), Mithilesh Kumari (62), Chandra Man Singh (65), Hemani Banshal (22), Shanthi Devi Varma (57), Ankurkashyam (36), Manorama Agarwal (82).
Pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh were travelling in the train and the ill-fated sleeper coach in which the fire broke out when the LPG cylinder burst following a gas leak when it was switched on for preparing tea.
Most of the victims were sleeping when the tragedy occurred.
Southern Railway announced an ex-gratia of Rs.10 lakh each to the families of the deceased, Rs.2 lakhs for those who suffered grievous injuries and Rs.50,000 for those who sustained simple injuries.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin also announced a solatium of Rs three lakh each to the families of the deceased.
President Droupady Murmu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N.Ravi, Mr Stalin, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who also announced an assistance of Rs two lakh each to the deceased families, and leaders of various political parties condoled the loss of nine lives in the train fire accident.
