Chennai:  A fire erupted in a tanker lorry carrying fuel from Chennai to Bengaluru early Sunday morning, resulting in the cancellation of at least eight trains, including the premium Vande Bharat and Shatabdi Expresses, to Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Coimbatore.

The blaze started early Sunday near Tiruvallur railway station, with dense smoke billowing from the train and tracks.

Fire and rescue teams, along with railway officials, were promptly dispatched and are currently managing the situation on-site. “Restoration efforts are underway, and normal train services will resume as soon as possible,” stated the Southern Railway.

As a precautionary measure for safety, all EMU local train services in the Chennai–Arakkonam corridor were temporarily halted.

Eight express trains, including the Vande Bharat and Shatabdi services from Chennai to Mysuru and Coimbatore, have been cancelled.

The statement further noted that initial reports suggest three wagons of a goods train derailed, causing a fuel leak and the subsequent fire.