London:
Around 100 passengers at one of London’s busiest railway stations today had a lucky escape when a coach caught fire due to an electrical defect, forcing authorities to temporarily close the station.
London Fire Brigade said 5 per cent of one carriage was a light on platform six on Charing Cross Station. No one was injured in the blaze.
Inspector Andy Hubbard from British Transport Police said:
“It appears there was a defect with the ceramic pots beneath the track, which caused the electrics to short. We’re ruling out anything criminal or terrorist-related as the cause.”
Around 100 passengers were ordered to leave the station after the blaze started in the front carriage of a South Western train.
Several people had been sitting on the train, waiting for it to depart, and were forced to jump off and run past the blaze to get out of the station.
Five fire engines were dispatched, with 35 fire fighters and officers from the London Fire Service (LFS). The underground station was closed for about 15 minutes before reopening, BBC reported.
Rail passengers posted dramatic images of the blaze on Twitter, in which the carriage appeared to have been engulfed in flames.
