At least two coaches of the Dhaka-bound intercity train Chattala Express were gutted in a fire that broke out in Chattogram’s Faujdarhat area on Thursday morning.

Bangladesh Railway officials said the fire originated at about 6:15am near the BMA Gate adjacent to Faujdarhat on the Chattogram–Dhaka railway route, burning a power car and an air-conditioned coach of the train.

Kumira Fire Service Station assistant officer Ehsan Ali said that firefighters reached the spot and started dousing the flames at about 6:43am, bringing the fire under control within around 15 minutes. The blaze was completely extinguished by around 8:00am.

No casualties were reported in the incident, he added.

Railway officials said that the unaffected coaches were detached soon after the fire broke out, preventing the flames from spreading further. Following the incident, the train was split, with its front portion taken to the nearby Kumira railway station, while the burnt coaches and five intact rear coaches were sent to the Pahartali railway shed.

The fire temporarily disrupted train movement on the Chattogram–Dhaka and Chattogram–Sylhet routes, although services resumed after the situation came under control.

According to Bangladesh Railway East officials, the 18-coach train had its power car, located sixth from the rear, and one AC coach damaged in the fire. The cause of the fire could not be immediately known, although officials suspect that it might have originated from the power car or generator compartment.

Meanwhile, a probe committee has been formed by the railway authorities to investigate the incident with the divisional transport officer assigned to lead the body and asked to submit a report within the next few days.

Bangladesh Railway (East) divisional transport officer Anisur Rahman said that the train was stopped quickly after the fire broke out and that prompt action by the fire service helped prevent further damage.

He added that the train left for its destination after replacing the damaged coaches at around 11.00am.