Conspiracy theories emerge over Falaknuma Express fire accident with threatening letter

HYDERABAD: Fire broke out on the Secunderabad-bound Falaknuma express on Friday, fuelling conspiracy theories as a cautionary anonymous letter was written to South Central Railways(SCR), warning of a potential Balasore-like tragedy in the first week of July 2023.

According to eyewitnesses, the Falaknuma express fire catastrophe began while a passenger was smoking a cigarette near the charging point.

The South Central Railways received an anonymous threat letter addressed from the Old City sub-post office warning of a repeat of the Balasore train tragedy in Hyderabad in the first week of July.

Indian Railways issued a red alert across all zones after receiving an anonymous letter warning a repeat of the Balasore train tragedy in Telangana in the first week of July. The letter was reportedly addressed to the Secunderabad Divisional Railway Manager.

"A Balasore-like railway tragedy may occur next week on the Hyderabad-Delhi-Hyderabad route, according to a letter received in the Secunderabad division on June 30, 2023."

The Balasore train tragedy, which involved three trains, killed over 300 people and injured over 1,000 others in the South Eastern Zone on June 2.

Many questions have been raised after the Falaknuma Express and seven coaches caught fire just a few days after receiving a threatening letter, which claimed that the accident was allegedly caused by a man smoking a cigarette at the charging point.

South Central Railways continues to investigate the incident and attempts to determine the cause of the Falaknuma express fire accident.