New-Delhi: Part of a precautionary measure, passengers will not be allowed to charge their phone, laptop and electronic devices at night between 11 pm to 5 am in view of the recent fire incidents in trains.
The decision was taken after Delhi-Dehradun Shatabdi Express caught fire on March 13. The fire started in a coach and spread to seven other coaches and barely six days later, a fire broke out in the engine of a static goods train at the Ranchi station.
The points used for charging mobile phones and other electronic devices for will be kept switched off from 11 pm till 5 am.
Railways is reportedly planning to propose an increase in punishment for such offenses. Currently, smokers inside the trains are punished under Section 167 of the Railways Act. Passengers who are found smoking are liable to a fine of up to Rs 100.
The Railways instructed that anyone carrying inflammable objects in trains is a punishable offense under Section 164 of the Railways Act and the offender may get imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of Rs 1,000 or both, and a fine of Rs 500 is applicable under Section 165.
Ms Kalinga