At least two people were killed and more than eight others sustained injuries in a fire which broke out on a train in the southern Indian state of Karnataka Tuesday, a senior railway official said.

"The mishap happened at Gulbarga station in Karnataka when a few coaches of the Falaknuma Express was engulfed in flames. The train was going to the western state of Maharashtra from the southern city of Hyderabad when the incident took place," he said, on condition of anonymity.

A number of fire engines have been pressed into service though the fire is yet to be brought under control, he said.

Preliminary probe indicates that short circuit could be the cause of the fire, the official said, adding that senior officials would be investigating the incident.