Stationary bogie goes up in flames

CHENNAI: A stationary railway bogie was gutted in a fire at the Pattabiram Military Siding in the outskirts of the city, late on Sunday night. However, no casualties were reported. According to a press release, the train, a delegate special, had reached Pattabiram Station around 6 am on Sunday ferrying some railway union members for a federation meet in Chennai, and was to have been stationed at the Pattabiram Railway Station.The fire broke out in the penultimate compartment of the train around 10.15 pm.Though the cause of the fire could not be ascertained, it is believed that some occupants  had lit up for cooking inside the compartment as there was no pantry car, the release added.On an alert from the Pattabiram Military Siding Station Master to the Administration Officer, Ordnance Depot, Avadi, a general fire alert was sounded. The area was cordoned off and fire fighters from the Ordnance Depot, Avadi, with the arrival of trucks from the fire fighting units of the Ordnance Depot, Air Force and Heavy Vehicle Factory, contained the flames around 12.10 am. No casualties were reported, the release added.When contacted, S Anantharaman, divisional railway manager, Chennai Division said an inquiry had been ordered into the incident.