Balasore, May 4: Panic gripped the railway station here after authorities a coal-laden wagon of a goods train caught fire last night. However, timely intervention helped to avert a major mishap.

Fire-fighters were pressed into service and it took two hours to douse the flames.

A minor smoke began emanating from the wagon tail end near the guard van near Markona. However, the flames leaped as the train was on the stretch between Bahanaga and Khantapara railway stations.

Since Khantapara station did not have adequate fire-fighting facilities, the train moved to Balasore, where the flames were doused.

Though, the incident did not affect movement of passenger trains in South Eastern division, a Tata Nagar-bound train from Paradip was delayed and left for its destination at around 11.30pm.

Balasore station manager Bhagabat Das said: “As soon as we got the news of fire, the goods train was stopped near Malgodown and the fire brigade personnel were informed immediately.”

“The train, which arrived at the Balasore around 9.45pm, left the station around 11.30pm after the flames were doused completely,” said Das.

Explaining the reason for the fire, Das said coal-laden wagons tend to self-ignite in intense heat. The goods train, which had about 40 wagons, was ferrying other materials apart from coal.

Assistant fire officer of Balasore S.K. Pradhan said: “When the news of fire reached us, power supply in the overhead lines was disconnected and the fire-fighters swung into action.”