Kaushik, along with Om Prakash Rathi, Randhir and Karnail Singh were singing folk songs and bhajans. The shuttle touched Harsaran Kalan, a small station 10 km from Sonepat, around 8.42 pm. But just as the train started moving, the chanting in the compartment turned into screams and cries for help.

Acrid fumes spilling out of the compartment, as scalded commuters screamed. Some miscreants had splashed acid on the passengers from outside when the train started gaining momentum.

Mahabir Kaushik didn't know what hit him. He felt like his face was on fire. Anil Dutt, another passenger, got it on his head. Others ran helter-skelter searching forwater, their clothes burning and their bodies scarred. They got some respite only five minutes later, when the train reached Sonepat station.

Fifteen passengers sustained acid burns and were taken to local hospitals. Six were discharged after first aid.

Devender Singh of Rajlugarhi, who was sitting next to the window says: ``Everyone was singing bhajans. I was preparing to get down at Sonepat, when suddenly I felt as if hot water had been thrown at me from outside. Then I felt this burning sensation, my clothes were burnt and rushed for help. I couldn't see anyone since it was dark outside.'' Devender sustained multiple burns on his neck, face and chest. Rajkumar of Prem Nagar in Sonepat got acid on his face. ``I still can't open my left eye,'' he says. His eyesight, though, has not been impaired.

The Railway police, however, believe the incident may well be the fallout of of animosity between daily commuters. Sub-inspector Rajender Prasad says: ``There is a strong possibility that somecommuters might have had an altercation initially and the acid was thrown in retaliation.''

``We have no enmity with anyone, and can't understand the motive behind this act,'' says Kaushik. Moments after the incident, irate passengers mistook another commuter, Ranbir, to be the culprit and attacked him. ``I had an argument with a fellow passenger which coincided in the acid-throwing incident, but before I could say anything, people started beating me up, me for the culprit,'' says a badly bruised Ranbir.

Radhey Shyam, a radio mechanic at Lajpat Rai Market in Delhi, who escaped with minor burns, says: ``Fortunately, I was standing away from the windows. As the train started moving from Harsharan Kalan, I thought I saw some liquid being showered on to the passengers from the windows and realised it was acid when I felt the burning sensation on my neck.''

The commuters say it was a mindless act. ``We have no enmity with anyone, and can't understand the motive behind this act,'' says Kaushik.