When smoke and sparks started coming out from the wheels of the AC coach of Samta Express, panic broke out at the station in Agra.

News Topical, Digital Desk : An AC coach of the Samta Express suffered a hot axle failure at Billochpura railway station on Thursday morning. The train, traveling at a speed of 30 km/h, was forced to stop after sparks and smoke began to billow from the wheels. A railway technical team and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) inspected the coach.

Fearing something untoward, a large number of passengers disembarked from the coach. The train remained stationary for 23 minutes. The incident affected the operations of half a dozen trains, including the Gatiman Express, Taj Express, and Hoshiarpur Express.

Upon reaching Agra Cantt station, the coach was inspected again. The train stopped for 32 minutes before being allowed to proceed further.

The train left after some time

Sparks began to fly from AC third-class coach B-5 of the Samta Express, traveling from New Delhi to Visakhapatnam, after leaving Mathura station. Smoke also began to rise due to a hot axle, causing smoke to enter the coach. The train was stopped briefly and then departed for Agra.

As the train passed through Guru Ka Tal at 9:23 a.m. on Thursday, sparks and smoke again caused panic among passengers. The train was stopped at Billochpura railway station. A large number of passengers disembarked from the coach. Railway teams and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) conducted an investigation and attempted to correct the technical problem.

Due to this, the train was held up for 23 minutes. At 9:46 a.m., the train departed at a slow speed for Cantt station. The train remained at Cantt station for 32 minutes. The technical fault was completely rectified.

Meanwhile, a hot axle in an AC coach affected the operation of half a dozen trains, including the Gatiman Express, Taj Express, and Hoshiarpur Express. Public Relations Officer Prashanti Srivastava said the train was stopped briefly due to the hot axle.

What is a hot axle

Wheels have axle boxes and bearings. Lack of lubrication, friction, or mechanical failure in the bearings can cause temperatures to reach 80 to 90 degrees Celsius.

Failure to stop the train in time can cause the axle to break. This can cause the wheel to lock and derail. Burning grease produces a smell and smoke, and a high-pitched whistling sound.

If the train did not stop, the passengers would jump.

Jai Kumar, who was traveling in AC coach B-5, said that the loco pilot showed prudence. As soon as smoke and sparks appeared, he applied the emergency brakes and stopped the train. If the train had not stopped within two to four minutes, many passengers could have jumped from the coach.

Passenger Devesh Mishra said he was traveling from New Delhi to see the Taj Mahal. The train's AC coach began experiencing problems from Mathura. Passenger Paras Rajput said passengers faced difficulties due to the hot axle.

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