Railways cautions people on acts which might lead to fire

With the increasing risk of fire incidents during the ongoing dry season, the Railways has urged people to restrain themselves from committing acts that could lead to a blaze.

To prevent any untoward incident, the Eastern Railway has urged the passengers to protest and report on seeing someone endangering the railway property. The ER has also advised a few guidelines for the passengers to curb fire hazards in railway premises. To begin with, carrying or using gas cylinders, kerosene stoves, or chemical heaters inside coaches or on platforms has been strictly prohibited while a zero tolerance for smoking has been adopted under which lighting cigarettes, bidis, or hookahs is not just a nuisance, but a fire hazard.

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To prevent fire from waste disposal, passengers have been advised not to discard lighted matchsticks or glowing cigarette butts in vestibules or station dustbins. Also, dry grass, crackers, petrol, thinners, and explosives have been prohibited in a public carriage.

The Sealdah Division of the ER has also made an appeal to the citizens and particularly commuters to prioritise safety and collective responsibility. The divisional railway has specifically urged citizens to refrain from throwing dry leaves, plastic waste, and flammable items such as lit cigarette butts onto or near the tracks, as these materials can ignite rapidly and lead to uncontrollable fires.

Furthermore, setting fire to dumped garbage or waste piles near the railway line has been strictly discouraged, as the intense heat and smoke from ground fires pose a severe threat to high-tension (OHE) wires and sensitive signalling equipment.

Considering that such incidents often cause electrical tripping, cable damage, and significant disruptions in train movements, resulting in property loss and risks to human life, the Sealdah Division has made an appeal to the citizens to act responsibly by not dumping or burning waste near the tracks.