Rail traffic on the busy Chennai–Arakkonam corridor was halted early Sunday after a freight train carrying 45 tankers of diesel and crude oil caught fire near Egattur in Thiruvallur district, about 40 kilometres west of Chennai. The blaze erupted at roughly 5 a.m. local time on 13 July as the train was travelling from Ennore port to Mumbai, sending thick smoke billowing over nearby communities. Firefighters and railway emergency crews isolated the affected wagons and continued to douse the flames through the morning. Local authorities said no casualties had been reported, but urged residents to stay indoors and keep clear of the site while the fire was contained. The incident forced the Southern Railway to suspend services on the Chennai–Arakkonam stretch, cancelling eight express trains, diverting five and short-terminating another eight. Officials said restoration work was under way and normal operations would resume once safety checks were completed. The railway ministry has ordered an inquiry to determine the cause of the fire and assess damage to rolling stock and infrastructure.