A fire broke out near the railway tracks in Gorakhpur on Wednesday after some farmers burnt wheat stalks. The flames spread quickly and reached the tracks on the Chauri Chaura-Baitulpur, Kaptanganj-Lakshmipur, and Phephna-Mau routes. This forced the railway administration to stop trains for safety reasons until the fire brigade extinguished the blaze.
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What caused the train delays in Gorakhpur
The incident happened because of the practice of burning wheat stalks near the tracks. The fire became uncontrollable and reached the railway lines, creating a risk for passing trains. Once the fire brigade put out the fire, the trains were allowed to move again. This event caused significant inconvenience to passengers traveling on these routes.
Railway administration guidelines for passengers and farmers
The North Eastern Railway has issued several warnings to prevent such accidents in the future. Ms. Veena Sinha, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Izzatnagar, and the CPRO have shared the following instructions:
- Farmers and locals must not burn dry grass, stubble, or garbage near the tracks.
- Passengers should not smoke during travel.
- Carrying flammable items like gas cylinders, stoves, or crackers is strictly prohibited.
- Anyone seeing fire near the tracks should immediately call the railway helpline 139 or inform the nearest station.
Legal action and penalties for damaging railway property
The railway administration warned that damaging railway property is a serious offense. Under Section 151 of the Railway Act, any person found responsible for such damage can face legal action. This may include a fine or imprisonment for up to five years.