SER Bans Overnight Charging to Prevent Train Fires
South Eastern Railway starts a 15-day drive to ban mobile/laptop charging between 11 PM and 5 AM to prevent fire hazards on passenger trains.
South Eastern Railway (SER) has officially launched a massive 15-day safety campaign to ensure passenger safety during night journeys. The initiative aims to strictly enforce the mandatory shutdown of mobile and laptop charging points in passenger trains between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM.
The safety drive, which is scheduled to run until November 8, comes as a response to increasing concerns regarding electrical hazards during overnight travel. By enforcing this overnight charging point shutdown, the railway administration hopes to significantly reduce the risk of electrical fires.
Preventing Fire Hazards and Short Circuits
The primary motivation behind this strict measure is to mitigate fire hazards, including short circuits and the overheating of power banks. According to railway officials, such incidents have been linked to safety breaches on trains in the past.
The Railway Board has emphasized that no exceptions will be permitted, citing a recent incident where a passenger's power bank caught fire due to negligence in adhering to these timings.
This directive is not a new concept; it reinforces earlier instructions issued by the Railway Board in June 2014. These rules were reiterated as recently as October 26 by Shobhit Gupta, Officer on Special Duty (Electrical Engineering), to all Principal Chief Mechanical Engineers across zonal railways.
Surprise Inspections and Strict Monitoring
To ensure that the rules are followed both by passengers and staff, South Eastern Railway has implemented several monitoring mechanisms:
- Surprise Inspections: Railway officials and supervisors have been tasked with conducting unannounced checks on trains.
- Compliance Monitoring: Continuous oversight to ensure charging points remain inactive during the restricted hours.
- Staff Training: The campaign includes mandatory counseling and training sessions for railway personnel to ensure they are well-versed in the safety protocols.
Accountability for Railway Personnel
The administration is taking a zero-tolerance approach toward negligence. South Eastern Railway has issued a clear warning: any lapses in enforcing these safety regulations will result in disciplinary action against the responsible railway personnel. This move ensures that the safety mandate is not just a guideline but a strictly enforced operational rule.