Overview

• The blaze erupted at around 5:30 am on July 13 when a diesel-laden goods train near Tiruvallur derailed and leaked fuel into adjacent wagons.
• Fire and rescue teams brought the blaze under control after hours of work, declaring it extinguished early Monday with no reported casualties.
• Southern Railway detached damaged wagons, restored overhead power and reopened the Up Slow line at 12:47 am, with all services on the corridor resuming shortly thereafter.
• Services on the crucial Chennai–Arakkonam route had been cancelled, diverted or short-terminated for more than a day, affecting dozens of express and local trains.
• Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the derailment and ignition cause, with railway and district officials reviewing emergency response and safety protocols.