The Kerala ‘Train Fire’ incident that took place on February 27, 2021, shocked the nation. The incident occurred when a coach of the KSR Bengaluru – Nagercoil Express caught fire near Kollam district in Kerala, resulting in the death of one passenger and injuries to several others. The police had launched a massive manhunt for the suspect, who was believed to have started the fire. After weeks of investigation, the suspect was finally apprehended on March 19, 2021, and is now undergoing medical evaluation.
The suspect has been identified as Adarsh (21), a resident of Tamil Nadu. According to the police, Adarsh confessed to starting the fire as he was frustrated with the delay in his train’s arrival. He had boarded the train at Bengaluru and was traveling to his hometown in Tamil Nadu. Adarsh had allegedly set fire to a bag containing clothes and other items, which quickly spread to other compartments. The police have registered a case of murder, attempted murder, and arson against him.
The police had released CCTV footage of the suspect, which helped in identifying him. After his arrest, Adarsh was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation as he had reportedly consumed poison before his arrest. His condition is said to be stable now. The police are also investigating if Adarsh had any accomplices or if he acted alone. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of train passengers and the need for better security measures on trains. The Indian Railways has announced that it will be installing CCTV cameras in all coaches to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
