Thursday, July 21 2005 15:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Coimbatore: The preliminary report of the inquiry into the fire mishap in the Cheran Express near Coimbatore would be submitted within 10 days, a senior Railway official said today (July 21, 2005).

Pranab Kumar Sen, Railway Safety Commissioner, Southern Circle, Bangalore, who is conducting the inquiry into the July 19 incident, told reporters that he had visited the site and inspected the burnt coach. The preliminary report would be given in 10 days time, he said.

A passenger coach was totally gutted in the fire, which occurred after an unidentified passenger allegedly committed suicide by self-immolation inside the compartment toilet.

The final inquiry report would be submitted to the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety within two months, Sen, who began the inquiry today, said.

Asked whether the case was that of a self-immolation, Sen said that he was totally dependent on the reports of forensic experts, who had collected samples from the burnt coach and toilet.

Moreover, only the deposition by the commuters and witnesses to the incident could throw light on the entire episode, Sen said.

On strengthening security arrangements in view of the incident, he said security was always tight in the railways. But sometimes, this type of 'isolated incidents' could not be avoided, Sen said.