A fire broke out in an empty economy-class railway bogie at Lahore Railway Station on Monday, sending flames and dense black smoke through the station, but no casualties or injuries were reported and train services continued as normal.

The fire started in a decommissioned bogie parked at the station, in the area of Platforms 6A and 7. Railway staff and nearby passengers were alarmed by the high flames billowing from the carriage windows, and passengers were moved from Platforms 6A and 7 to safe locations as a precaution. An emergency was declared across the station.

Fire brought under control in 40 minutes

Rescue 1122 and municipal fire brigade teams were called after railway staff's initial efforts with on-site equipment could not control the blaze. Railway crew also used an engine to haul away the remaining carriages on Platforms 6A and 7A so the fire could not spread to adjoining rolling stock.

According to a Railway spokesperson, the fire brigade brought the flames under control within 40 minutes and extinguished the blaze by 1:20pm. No loss of life was reported, and railway officials confirmed that train operations remained unaffected, with all services continuing on their normal schedules.

Railway Police apprehended a suspect at the scene, and a formal case is being registered at the Lahore Railway Police Station. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed, and an investigation is under way.

Read the full reports at The News and PakWheels.