New Delhi, July 31, IRNA -- Thirty-two train passengers were charred to death and 25 others injured when a fire broke out in a coach of the New Delhi-Chennai Tamil Nadu Express near Nellore in Andhra Pradesh state in the wee hours today due to a short circuit.

Thirty two bodies have been recovered so far from the charred S-11 bogie of the train, pti reported quoting Additional Director General Railways V S K Kaumudi as said. South Central Railway officials in Hyderabad said 25 people have been injured in the mishap and have been admitted to different hospitals.

According to Nellore district officials, the fire was noticed by a gateman at around 0415 hours IST (Indian Standard Time) A.M who alerted officials. Two fire tenders were rushed to the spot immediately to put out the fire and they managed to restrict the blaze to the S-11 bogie, they said.

Nellore District Collector B Sridhar said, 'There was a short circuit near the toilet and the train was moving at a speed of 110 kms per hour. It was going to Chennai from Delhi. All the passengers were asleep when the fire broke out at 0430 IST. People were not able to come out immediately'.

'The fire spread fast and the passengers could not come out through one of the doors because of the fire. So the other edge of the coach was to be used. Some people could come out while others succumbed to death,' he said.

The bodies have been charred so it is difficult to identify them, Sridhar said.

The toll could rise up to 35 as some of the bodies are still to be recovered from the charred S-11 compartment. Nellore district police officials said 14 passengers in the bogie were safe.

Meanwhile, Railway Minister Mukul Roy has announced an exgratia payment of Rs five lakh each to the next of the kin of those killed in the mishap. The Railway Minister also announced a payment of Rs one lakh each for those who were grievously injured and Rs 25,000 for those who suffered simple injuries.

The Railway Ministry has also ordered an inquiry by D K Singh, Commissioner of Railway Safety of South-Central Circle to look into the cause of the accident.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister condoles loss of lives in Tamil Nadu Express fire mishap. Condoling the loss of lives in the fire accident in the Tamil Nadu Express, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked the Railway Ministry to render all assistance to the affected.

Expressing shock and grief over the mishap that took place near Nellore, Singh conveyed his sympathies to the kin of those who died in the accident.