Kota Train Fire Exposes Railway Safety Lapses as Passengers Lose All

In a shocking turn of events, passengers on the Rajdhani Express were forced to abandon their belongings and jump from the train when a sudden fire erupted in one of the coaches near Kota. The incident has sparked outrage over the alleged failure of safety systems, with travelers claiming that the fire alarm never went off and rescue operations were slow to respond. A mother traveling with her child described how the family had to flee without even finding their footwear, while a young man lost his laptop, marksheets, and essential documents in the blaze. Despite the presence of a passing goods train that reportedly intensified the flames, no immediate help arrived from railway staff. It was only after local villagers intervened that the fire was finally brought under control. Railway officials have since offered ₹5,000 as relief and arranged alternative coaches for the remaining journey. However, many passengers chose to stay in Kota to register complaints, insisting that their losses were far greater than the compensation offered. The episode has left travelers questioning the preparedness of Indian Railways in handling such emergencies.