Smoke in AC coach of inter-city express triggers panic

Kochi: Panic gripped briefly the passengers of an air-conditioned compartment of Kannur-Ernakulam Inter-City Express train Tuesday after smoke was found emanating from a battery box.

Railway staff used the fire extinguisher from the train's guard van to douse the smoke noticed from the battery box of C1 coach at Feroke station, near Kozhikode around 4.30 pm, a Railway official told PTI.

The train left Feroke station for Ernakulam after a delay of about 45 minutes after carriage and wagon supervisors checked and certified the compartment.

Meanwhile, passengers in the affected coach were shifted to other compartments, the official said, adding the cause of the smoke would be investigated once the train arrives at Ernakulam.