Ladhowal (Punjab): Thirty-eight persons, including women and children, were killed and 13 injured when three coaches of Amritsar-bound Frontier Mail caught fire on May 15 morning near Ladhowal railway station, 10 km from Ludhiana.

Many bodies were charred beyond recognition, Railways Divisional Commercial Manager (Ambala) M S Meena said.

The injured have been shifted to Christian Medical College hospital, civil hospital and Dayanand Medical College in Ludhiana.

Divisional Railway Manager (Ambala) Keshav Chandra said 2nd, 3rd and 4th sleeper coaches from the rear were affected by the fire, cause of which was not immediately known.

The affected sleeper coaches S3 S4 and S5 have been detached from the train and arrangements are being made for onward journey of the passengers to Amritsar.

The train caught fire about 10 minutes after it left Ludhiana at 03:35 hours (IST). Four bodies have been brought out of the burnt coaches. The worst- affected coach was S4.

Relief and medical teams from Ambala has left for the scene and railways has set up control rooms at Ambala, Saharanpur and Jagadhari to provide information to the people about the incident.

Railway Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed his "profound grief" over the tragedy involving Frontier Mail and has directed railway authorities to intensify relief and rescue measures.

Kumar, who is in Kolkata to inaugurate a national seminar on wagon technology on May 15, also directed the authorities to attend to those injured.

PTI