Silchar/Guwahati: A fire caused by a brake-binding fault in the wheel assembly of a sleeper coach of the Rangiya–Silchar Express triggered panic among passengers at Langting railway station in Assam’s Dima Hasao district on Sunday, railway officials said.The train was detained for around 30 minutes as a precaution. No injuries were reported.Sources said the fire started from an overheated axle near the rear wheel of the S-5 coach of train No. 15611 after a brake shoe rubbed against one of its wheels while the train was stationed at Langting on Diwali.Railway staff used fire extinguishers to douse the flames before they spread. The prompt response of railway personnel brought the situation under control and averted a potentially major mishap. All passengers were reported safe.Northeast Frontier Railway chief public relations officer KK Sharma said the train was detained near Langting for around 30 minutes early Sunday due to a brake-binding issue, leading to smoke due to the friction between the brake shoe of one of the coaches and the wheel.“The problem was attended to and rectified on the spot by the coach attendant, after which the train continued its journey,” he said.
