Overview
- A blaze in a Central Railway sleeper coach at the Matunga workshop was contained within about an hour after firefighters arrived.
- Railway officials reported heavy damage to the coach’s upper section, estimating about 70% burned, while underslung systems such as batteries and brakes remained intact.
- Workers moved the coach into an open area to block any spread to other stock, and authorities said no injuries occurred.
- Preliminary findings point to sparks from welding near the toilet at the CSMT end as the likely trigger, with strong winds and a non-AC layout helping flames race through the interior.
- Central Railway has opened a formal probe, a step that could drive tighter maintenance controls following last week’s ONGC offshore platform fire off Mumbai.