At least twenty-six people were killed and 15 injured when a fire broke out in an Air-Conditioned coach of the Bengalore-Nanded express train in Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh during wee hours today. Initially fire broke out in D-1 coach and later spread to the next one. The train was stopped at Puttaparthy station and the burning coaches were delinked. The fire was extinguished after evacuating the passengers.

Union Railway Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge has said that an enquiry will be ordered to look into the cause of the incident. He said, a compensation of five lakh rupees will be given to the next of kin of those killed. Railways will provide free treatment to the injured. The South Western Railways has set up a help desk in Bangalore that can be reached through phone number 080-22354108, 2259271, 22156554. The Prasanti Nilayam station number is 08555280125.