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The Ghana Railways Company Limited has explained that a false fire alarm on a Takoradi-bound train on Thursday caused a stampede that left more than 50 passengers injured.
According to the company, a non-critical smoke that was detected from the engine compartment of the train caused some passengers to panic and spread the alarm of an imminent fire outbreak forcing many other passengers to attempt to flee the stationary through the windows.
The Public Relations Officer of the company, Thomas Brown, in an interview on Eyewitness News explained that the incident occurred about 7.40am while the train was on its routine Sekondi to Takoradi route.
“This morning, [the train] was on one of its routine line and when it got to Butuah Station around 7.40am, the driver had descended to go and get clearance to move to the Takoradi Station and he realized there was smoke coming from the engine of the train. Some of the passengers also saw the smoke and got startled and started trying to escape. It was a false alarm they spread and resulted in a stampede of a sort. Some [passengers] decided to break the windows and get out of the coach. The train was stationary and it was just smoke, no fire,” he noted.
According to Mr. Brown, the train in question is still in active service except that some of its windows are broken as a result of the chaos in attempt to escape.
“Nothing got burnt and as I speak, the train is moving. It is still in good shape. The only problem now is the broken glass which is unfortunate,” he noted.
Meanwhile, majority of the injured persons admitted at the New Takoradi Health Centre and the Takoradi Government Hospital have been treated and discharged as all the injuries were minor.
