A major fire broke out in a diesel-laden goods train near Tiruvallur early Sunday morning, burning for nearly seven hours. The fire started around 5.30 am and destroyed 18 wagons, each carrying 70,000 litres of diesel.

Train services on the busy Chennai-Arakkonam route were badly hit. At least 12 trains were cancelled and many others were diverted or ended early.

Officials say 12.6 lakh litres of diesel, worth ₹12 crore, were lost in the fire. The blaze began from the third wagon as the train left Tiruvallur station. The loco pilot used emergency brakes and the Station Master cut power, but the fire spread up to the 19th wagon. Some wagons derailed.

Southern Railway confirmed the incident and three special RPF teams are now probing the cause of the fire.