At least 30 persons were killed and 22 injured when the New Delhi-Chennai Tamil Nadu express caught fire between Nellore and Vedaypalem on Vijayawada-Gudur section in Andhra Pradesh in the early hours today.

Fire broke out at around 4.15 hrs in the S-11 compartment after the train left Nellore Railway Station. The Railway and state authorities have swung into action to douse the fire and presently carrying out rescue and relief works.

Nellore Collector B Sridhar told reporters that seven bodies have been found in the ill-fated compartment while many other passengers suspected to have trapped inside.

The compartment has been detached from the rest of the train to prevent fire spreading to other bogies. Medical teams and Ambulances were pressed into services to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.

Though the reason for the fire accident still to be ascertained, the authorities are suspecting that short circuit might have caused the fire. Meanwhile, the train traffic has been severally affected on the Nellore- Chennai Division due to accident.

Help lines have been set up at Vijayawada, Nellore and Secunderabad for information about the accident victims.

Secunderabad:
040-27786723 and 040-27700868

Vijayawada:
0866-2345863, 2345864, 2345865,2345866

Nellore:
0861- 2576924, 2575038