Special drive launched in Odisha against carrying Diwali crackers in trains

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Oct 24, 2019 at 3:34 PM

Bhubaneswar: Taking precautionary measure to avoid untoward incident during festive season Diwali, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) today launched a special drive against carrying crackers in trains.

The ECoR directed all its three divisions — Khurda Road, Sambalpur and Waltair — to keep a strict vigil on carrying inflammable and explosive items in trains to ensure safety of passengers during Diwali celebrations.

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Carrying inflammable items during train journey is strictly prohibited. If any passenger is seen carrying inflammable items, the co-passengers are requested to inform on-duty Railway Staff like Railway Protection Force (RPF) & Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel, TTEs, Coach Attendants, Guards of the train, Station Managers, to save the train passengers from danger, ECoR said in a release.

Passengers can call Help Line Number 182 to report any incident concerning carrying crackers on train. Steps have been taken by the Security Department of East Coast Railway to make the train passengers and Rail Users aware of the dangers of carrying crackers and explosive substances. Surprise checks are being carried out randomly in trains in this regard in case of any suspicion regarding carrying of crackers, the release stated.

Besides, the ECoR has also taken awareness drive to alert passengers through public announcement system at railway stations.

Random and surprise checks will also be undertaken by deputing Railway staff in coordination with Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Civil Defence Volunteers and special attention will be given to check parcels or luggage loading in Parcel Vans.

These apart, adequate fire extinguishers will be provided at railway stations, goods shed, guard’s brake van, AC coaches, pantry cars & locomotives. It will also be ensured that the passage at the doors of the coaches will be kept free for free movement of the passengers.

Notably, carrying inflammable and explosive objects like crackers, gas cylinders, acid, petrol, kerosene, etc. in trains (passenger, mail/express) during journey is a punishable offence under the Railways Act, 1989 and the offender may get an imprisonment up to 3 years.