Indian Railways launch intensive drive against inflammable items in trains

The Indian Railways have launched an intensive drive against inflammable items in trains the Western Railway said on FridayAccording to an official statement during this ongoing festive season after detection of fire crackers in trains at various locations like New Delhi Anand Vihar Jabalpur Vijaywada etc stations Ministry of Railways has issued instructions to zonal railways for a drive against carriage of inflammable items across the Indian Railways networkIt said to make the train journey safer the railways has urged passengers to be careful and not to carry and also not let their copassengers carry inflammable objects while travelling on trainsAll zonal railways have launched intensive awareness drive for the passengers Regular announcements are being made at railway stations making an appeal not to carry inflammable and explosive objects like firecrackers gas cylinders acid petrol kerosene etc in passenger trains during a train journey the statement saidIt said the zonal railways have directed concerned officials to keep a strict vigil on passenger movements while travelling by train Railway Protection Force RPF and Government Railway Police GRP personnel have been alerted Luggage and parcel items are being scanned thoroughly before loadingA public awareness campaign encouraging rail passengers to take preventative measures to avert fire incidents No of leaflets distributed 36852 No of stickersposted posters 12401 No of Nukkad nataks performed 638 No of stations where announcements through PA system is made 14362 Advertisement published in print media 171 Video displayed in TV channelsRDN 1320 Posting of banners on social media 928A public awareness meeting conducted No of awareness meeting conducted with Parcel porters 3887 No of awareness meeting conducted with Lease Holders amp their staff 2145 No of awareness meeting conducted with Parcel staff 4694 No of awareness meeting conducted with pantry car staff 9386 No of awareness meeting conducted with Catering staff of stations 5120 No of awareness meeting conducted with Kuli 5094 No of awareness meeting conducted with OBHS staff 4510 No of awareness meeting conducted with other outsourced staff 4977 No of awareness meeting conducted with Passengers 79060 Legal Actions Taken No of checks conducted in trains 37311 No of checks conducted at stations 22110 No of checks conducted at yards washing lines pit lines fueling points 7656Violators Booked No of violators jailed under section 153164 of Railway Act for carrying inflammable articles ie firecrackers and gas cylnders 155 No of violators booked for carrying CigaretesBeedi under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act COTPA 3284Indian Railways appeals to the railway passengers not to carry any inflammable materials gas cylinders petrol diesel and kerosene stoves matchboxes cigarette lighters and any detonating substances including firecrackers the official statement saidIt said As per Sections 67 164 and 165 of the Railway Act 1989 carrying flammable and explosive articles on railways constitutes a punishable offence with penalties of up to Rs 1000 or imprisonment for up to three years or both in addition to being responsible for any loss injury or damage causedMeanwhile the official statement added over the Western Railway special drives were conducted to create awareness to not carry inflammable items in trains and in railway premises A total of 13 cases were registered with arrest of 13 accused persons and seizure of inflammable items worth Rs163 Lakh An SMS campaign 1 Crore was run by WR which was sent to 35 lakh mobile usersIt said that besides this informative webcards were posted on various social media platforms such as X Facebook Koo and Instagram Public awareness meetings with Pantry Car staff Catering staff Parcel staff etc were conducted Intensive checks to detect inflammable items were conducted in trains and at stations Leafletspamphlets were distributed to create awareness among railway commuters to not carry inflammable objects in trains or in railway premises Announcements were also made through PA systems at stations