A minor fire erupted on board the Daund-Pune shuttle train on Monday morning after a passenger allegedly threw a lit bidi into a lavatory dustbin, triggering panic among commuters. The incident occurred near Yavat in Pune district around 8 am, police said.

The trash bin contained flammable waste, which caught fire and filled the coach with smoke. Fortunately, only a few passengers were in the coach at the time, and no injuries were reported.

Railway authorities said the fire was swiftly put out. The train was halted at Yavat station for about 20 minutes due to the emergency. A 55-year-old man, suspected to be mentally unstable, was detained and handed over to police for further inquiry.

The train, a daily DEMU service, connects Daund and Pune over a 75-km stretch. Officials are now stressing the need for better awareness and vigilance to prevent such incidents in the future.