Overview
- The Samastipur–Saharsa MEMU (No. 63344) caught fire at Simri Bakhtiyarpur station around 3:00 am on Monday, with the blaze starting in the train’s motor/engine coach and spreading to an adjoining coach.
- Station staff and passengers evacuated the train; on‑board extinguishers failed to stop the fire and local fire tenders were summoned to the scene.
- Firefighters used foam and water tenders and crews shut off the overhead electrical equipment before declaring the fire extinguished at 5:50 am.
- Railway officials reported no casualties but said services on the Samastipur–Saharsa route were suspended for about two hours while the response took place.
- East Central Railway has opened an inquiry to determine the cause, a probe that will be watched closely after a separate coach fire in Madhubani in May raised questions about coach safety and maintenance practices.