Tool car catches fire at Chennai Central

However, fire personnel put out the fire in over 30 minutes averting a major accident, since the train contained gas cylinders used for welding purposes.

SPART is a three-car utility vehicle comprising supervisory van, medical van and a tool van. The tool van contains all mechanical equipment including generators and cylinders to address any glitches in a train midway of its journey, while the medical van houses all first-aid materials. Supervisory van is used by officials and doctors to visit the accident spots and inspection. 

Around 3 pm, GRP personnel Krishnakumar and Arasakumar spotted smoke emanating the middle tool van and alerted the railway officials. On information, four fire tenders from Esplanade and Washermanpet rushed to the spot and doused the fire and the cylinders were safely removed. However, the  tool van was completely gutted in the fire and equipment damaged. 

Railway police said that the SPART was stationed at the same spot for years together and added that a short-circuit in the generator could have caused the fire.